Some 3 million Colombians, 6.4% of the population, have been affected by the heavy rains wreaking havoc across Colombia, revealed a study conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (DANE), Semana reported Thursday.
The official figure equates to just under 3 million people, with the greatest concentration of victims in the Caribbean region, where 1,479,434 people are affected, representing 3.2% of the Colombian population.
The Pacific region, with 738,106 victims, was the next hardest hit, followed by the Andean region with 669,275 victims and the eastern regions with 77,574.
Of the number of affected people, around 60% are said to be in “need of constant attention” due to the perilous vulnerability in which they live.
The information will now be compiled to create a database of victims, the key to starting the immense reconstruction process and to ensure aid and subsidies reach those who have lost almost everything in the natural disaster, said Emergency Fund manager Everardo Murillo.
Over six thousand agents will be sent to the disaster-hit areas to collect and verify data to produce a victims database within three months, stated Murillo.
The news comes as acting Bogota mayor Maria Fernanda Campo requested a sum of over $45 million from government relief agency Colombia Humanitaria to support rain victims in the capital, reported El Espectador.
“I had a conversation with Colombia Humanitaria to ensure that they will finance the support for victims of our city and we will request 80 billion pesos ($45 million) for this purpose,” said Campo on her second day in office.
The funds will be used to complete reconstruction works in the city and thus prevent further disasters.
The intense rainy season has caused heavy rains to beat down in Colombia for over a year. Officials say between 420-425 people have lost their lives in the natural disater. Meteorologists predict the rains will ease by June and a short summer will allow the soil to dry out and reconstruction projects to begin.