Flooding caused by the overflowing of the Cauca River has affected 160,000 people in the Mojana region of the Sucre department as Colombia’s rainy season continues to take its toll, reports El Heraldo.
The International Red Cross and local mayoralties pledged to provide food and assistance to people affected in the municipalities of San Jacinto, Majagual Guaranda and Sucre.
Following a high level government meeting on the crisis, Interior Minister Fabio Valencia Cossio ordered subsidies be given to farmers who have so far lost 10,000 hectares of grain to the floods.
“It’s a big mess and we know that the overflow of the river has caused a lot of damage. We must first ensure the citizens’ lives and then for their dignified survival,” said Valencia Cossio.
The Transport Ministry said that it was attempting to obtain a dredge from the Magadalena River regulator, Cormagdalena, in order block the point where the Cauca River broke its banks.
At least 60 people have died and 258,000 people have been affected by heavy rain in 27 of Colombia’s 32 departments so far this year.