Statement on the Colombia Earthquake by Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR

I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and the damage caused by the earthquake in Colombia. My heartfelt condolences go to the families who have lost loved ones and to everyone affected.

This disaster, coming soon after the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, is a stark reminder of the ever-present threat posed by earthquakes. While we cannot prevent earthquakes, we can reduce their impacts by investing in seismic resilience.

Over the years, Colombia has made significant progress in strengthening both its disaster preparedness and response capacities, and UNDRR is committed to supporting them further.

I ask the international community to stand in solidarity with Colombia in this difficult time and to support it in building back better from this tragedy.