The bishops of Colombia’s Cartagena ecclesiastical province have called for a campaign to help the thousands of residents in the northern departments of Sucre, Córdoba, and Bolvar who have been impacted by the heavy winter rains.
The rains have recently hit many departments, or states, in northern Colombia, including Bolvar, where at least 16 municipios (counties) and one district have declared states of emergency. 19,000 persons are said to have been impacted thus far.
More than 13,000 individuals have been impacted by the floods brought on by the Sin River rising in the Córdoba department.
The predicament of 35,000 people hit by the rains and floods in the San Jorge and La Mojana subregions worries the authorities in the Sucre department.
The Apostolic Vicariate of San Andrés and Providencia, the Dioceses of Magangué, Sincelejo, Montelbano, and Montera, the Archdiocese of Cartagena, and these organisations have requested donations of nonperishable food items and cleaning supplies for the parishes and food banks in Cartagena and Montera. Additionally, they are requesting contributions through a Bancolombia Savings account opened for the Archdiocese of Cartagena.
In a July 11 statement, the bishops also made “an urgent call to government entities to provide a definitive solution to this situation,” since “comprehensive responses to structural historical problems” are required.
“May Our Lady of Mt. Carmel intercede for so many brothers and sisters in need and accompany those who with a generous heart join this campaign,” the statement concluded.