Colombia Humanitaria, in charge of collecting private funds to help victims of this year’s disastrous rainy season, has collected more than $743,000 this year, the organization announced on Friday.
The humanitarian initiative is led by first lady Maria Clemencia Rodriguez, who urged Colombians to continue donating money for the estimated 1.8 million victims.
“The whole country has realized this is a sad reality, that this is a huge drama,” the first lady told press at an event in the presidential palace in Bogota.
According to the latest figures of the Interior and Justice Ministry, 238 Colombians have died, 250 were injured and 103 are missing due to the extreme weather.
This year’s rainy season is the most destructive and deadly in at least 50 years.