Colombian Government Faces Data Gaps in Earthquake Recovery Efforts

President Abelardo de la Espriella has warned that 204 of the 498 municipalities affected by the August 10 earthquake have not yet submitted detailed damage reports to the national government. The president stated that this information is essential for the restructuring and recovery phase, noting that the deadline for submission is September 17. While the president estimated reconstruction costs at approximately 30 trillion pesos, recent decrees establishing the Milagro Fund do not specify the exact amount of funding required. The fund will be managed by a public fiduciary entity selected by the government.

In the Valle del Cauca department, local efforts are underway to address the crisis. The municipality of Roldanillo is implementing a pilot plan to serve as a model for regional reconstruction. This plan includes assisted self construction for 11,782 housing units and the return of 26,041 students to in person learning across 224 educational sites. Additionally, 115 community kitchens are providing 11,626 daily rations, and 20 billion pesos have been allocated to support business capital. The regional impact also extends to religious infrastructure, with 149 affected temples reported in the department and six patrimonial churches damaged in Cali.