UN warns of increased child recruitment risk in post-earthquake Colombia

The UN Resident Coordinator in Colombia, María José Torres Macho, warned that the 7.4-magnitude earthquake on 10 August could exacerbate the risk of child recruitment by armed groups in Chocó and Valle del Cauca. The quake damaged over 3,800 educational facilities, affecting more than one million students, with nearly 178,000 attending schools with serious structural damage. In Chocó, some rural schools were destroyed or collapsed, and assessments continue in Risaralda and Caldas. The UN emphasizes restoring education to return children to protective environments. The earthquake left 331 dead, 4,449 injured, and 219 missing, affecting over 406,000 people across 15 departments. Many affected areas already faced poverty, isolation, and armed violence. The UN has reached about 72,000 people with aid, but 1.2 million need assistance, requiring $148.1 million with only 40% funded. Urgent needs include shelter, medical care, water, education, and livelihood support. Conflict-related displacement continues, with 95 Afro-Colombian people displaced in Sipí, Chocó. Local authorities and organizations are first responders, but some municipalities are overwhelmed.