Colombia’s vice-president asked the country’s banks Sunday for solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of flood victims and freeze outstanding debts of those affected by the rainy season.
“I want to highlight the efforts of President [Juan Manuel] Santos, mayors and governors for the victims. We believe that this effort has to be compensated and accompanied by a demonstration of solidarity by the banks, who had their earnings above 9 trillion pesos ($4.5 billion) this year, to take the decision to for 2012 freeze the payment of debt and interest the victims of the rainy season have with them,” Vice-President Angelino Garzon said at a public meeting.
The vice president stressed the decision of the state-owned National Savings Fund to freeze victims’ debts and called on Colombians to pressure their banks to do the same.
“I want to invite Colombians to use the social media and mass media to support this request, within the spirit of solidarity … with all victims” the vice president said.
According to the Red Cross, more than 500,000 Colombians have become victim of floods and landslides caused by this country’s second rainy season that started in September.