Torrevieja shows solidarity with Colombia and publicizes the official channels for providing aid to those affected by the earthquake

The Torrevieja City Council and various associations and social entities in the city have made a joint appeal to the public to collaborate with the people affected by the earthquake that occurred in Colombia on August 10th.

The Councillor for Social Welfare, Óscar Urtasun; the Councillor for NGOs and Volunteering, Trudy Páez; the spokesperson for the Torrevieja para Todos Cultural Association, Liliana Uribe; María Nubia Salazar and Humberto Zulueta, spokespersons for the NGOs ASILA-ALMA; and José Luis Ardila, pastor of the Cristo Vive Evangelical Church, appeared at a press conference to raise awareness of the situation in Colombia and to make a solidarity appeal to all the citizens of Torrevieja.

MORE THAN 324,000 PEOPLE AFFECTED

During her address, Liliana Uribe, spokesperson for Torrevieja para Todos (Torrevieja for All), explained that the earthquake has not only affected one town, but is a nationwide emergency impacting thousands of families. According to the preliminary assessment released on August 24, the earthquake has affected 16 of Colombia's 32 departments, with damage reported in 494 municipalities, representing nearly 45% of the country.

The figures show 324,157 people affected, belonging to 159,924 families, as well as 329 deaths, 4,592 injuries, 234 missing persons, and 364 rescued. The emergency has also caused serious material damage. A total of 209,755 homes have been affected, and around 15% have been completely destroyed. Damage has also been reported to schools, healthcare facilities, roads, communication infrastructure, and five airports.

ORGANIZED, SAFE AND SUSTAINED AID

The spokesperson for Torrevieja para Todos (Torrevieja for All) indicated that humanitarian aid cannot be limited solely to the first few days after the earthquake. Currently, food, water, medicine, temporary shelter, building materials and supplies are needed, in addition to resources for rebuilding schools, health centers, basic services, and livelihoods.

It will also be necessary to provide emotional support to those affected and help families repair or rebuild their homes, return to work, and gradually resume their daily lives. Liliana Uribe emphasized that “the emergency doesn't end when it disappears from the news” and insisted that Colombia needs “responsible, coordinated, and lasting solidarity.”

INITIAL AID OF 250,000 EUROS FROM THE GENERALITAT

During the press conference, information was also provided on the institutional response agreed by the Valencian Government after the extraordinary meeting of the Emergency Humanitarian Aid Committee.

The Generalitat has announced an initial contribution of 250,000 euros, intended to cover needs related to food and basic goods, water supply, medical supplies, childcare, psychosocial support and the recovery of livelihoods for affected families.

The Valencian Community was already carrying out 18 cooperation projects in Colombia before the earthquake, seven of them in the affected areas. These programs can be adapted to the new situation to respond to the priorities established by the Colombian authorities and the agencies responsible for coordinating humanitarian aid.

Torrevieja para Todos is also in contact with the Colombian Consulate in Valencia to identify the safest, most effective, viable, and transparent ways to collaborate. The participating associations are also working on various solidarity initiatives, details of which will be shared once they have been defined and coordinated with the relevant authorities.

OFFICIAL CHANNELS FOR MAKING DONATIONS

Finally, the public has been expressly asked to use only the official channels of accredited humanitarian organizations. Those interested can collaborate through the following channels disseminated by the Valencian Government:

• Alliance for Solidarity : transfer to ES76 2100 5731 7302 0050 4902 or Bizum 05075.
• AESCO : Banco Santander, ES98 0049 1837 5026 1047 7924.
• Save the Children : Banco Santander, ES13 0049 0001 5224 1001 9194; CaixaBank, ES89 2100 1727 1202 0003 2834; BBVA, ES83 0182 5502 5800 1002 0207; or Bizum 13132. Concept: Earthquake Colombia + DNI/NIE.
• Ayuda en Acción : CaixaBank, ES69 2100 5731 7202 0041 1957.
• Farmamundi : transfer to ES45 0128 7632 7601 0002 8693 or Bizum 04941.
• Red Cross : CaixaBank, ES28 2100 0600 8502 0196 0066, or Bizum 33512.
• UNICEF : CaixaBank, ES39 2100 2657 1713 0020 9392.
• Cooperation Assembly for Pau-PV : www.acppasamblea.org .
• Oxfam Intermón : CaixaBank, ES16 2100 0765 8802 0022 2278; Banco Santander, ES44 0049 1806 9220 1202 6800; BBVA, ES94 0182 6035 4502 0150 5849; Banco Sabadell, ES94 0081 5041 8700 0113 2824; Triodos Bank, ES53 1491 0001 2510 0925 5728; or Bizum 33594.
• Entreculturas : Banco Santander, ES57 0049 0496 8221 1020 0781.
• Doctors of the World : transfer to ES54 2100 4466 9902 0002 0000.
• Caritas : CaixaBank, ES60 2100 2208 3502 0030 7230. Concept: Earthquake Colombia.
• Action Against Hunger : Banco Santander, ES57 0049 0001 5928 1009 0000; CaixaBank, ES86 2100 2999 9302 0003 0018; or Bizum 11250.
• UNHCR : CaixaBank, ES60 2100 2208 3502 0030 7230. Concept: Earthquake Colombia.

The participating entities recommend verifying the information on each organization's official channels before carrying out any transaction and always specifying the requested concept.