(ANS – Columbia) — A week after the earthquake that shook western Colombia, the emergency continues to affect the lives of thousands of people. While rescue, assessment and reconstruction operations continue, Salesian missionaries have stepped up their efforts in the areas affected by the quake, setting up collection centers, distributing food, supporting rescue teams and providing direct assistance to communities that were already living in vulnerable conditions before the emergency.

The emergency caused by last week’s earthquake has entered a new phase. In addition to search and damage assessment operations, there is now a need to ensure food, water, hygiene, shelter and safety for those who cannot return to their homes.

Initial figures indicate that more than 350 municipalities have been affected, with severe damage to roads, hundreds of schools damaged, and problems accessing water, electricity, sanitation and telecommunications. Against this backdrop, Salesian missionaries have already moved to provide a direct response on the ground.

The Salesians have, in fact, converted schools and other facilities across the country into collection centers for water, nonperishable food, hygiene products and essential supplies for rescue teams. Furthermore, from these locations, they are coordinating the delivery of aid to the worst-affected areas.

The extent of the damage also affects the communities: 10 of their 18 communities in the western part of the country have been affected. “We estimate that more than 4,000 people associated with our works have seen their educational, pastoral and social activities disrupted,” explain the missionaries in the area.

Aid is already being distributed in towns such as Cali, Dosquebradas and Buenaventura, which have been particularly hard hit by the disaster.

In Cali, one of the cities hardest hit by the earthquake, Salesian aid is directed both at the affected population and at those who continue to work on the emergency response. This is the case, for example, with the students in the culinary program at the Don Bosco Training Center: these young people are preparing and distributing food in the towns near Cali. What they learned during their formation has now become a practical tool for caring for the population in the midst of the emergency.

In addition, Salesian teams are supporting rescue teams with breakfasts, rehydration drinks, ice and equipment. “Just yesterday, Monday, Aug. 17, we prepared more than 200 breakfasts for the rescue workers,” explains Fr. Adolfo Romero.

In Buenaventura, too, the situation is particularly worrying. The Fundación Servicio Juvenil is based there — a Salesian social initiative founded in 1972 with a long tradition of commitment to children, young people, women and families living in poverty and marginalization. “Casa Bosconia Buenaventura” is one of the communities hardest hit.

Even before the earthquake, “Casa Bosconia” provided daily meals to around 100 children, for some of whom this might have been their only meal of the day. It also offered craft training courses to around 200 mothers in a predominantly African-descendant community.

Now, many of those same families have lost their homes or are unable to return to them. “There are people sleeping outdoors, in the rain, without electricity or a regular water supply,” explain the Salesian missionaries. In an area characterized by high temperatures and humidity, the lack of water and sanitation facilities also increases the risk of disease.

The Salesian missionaries in Buenaventura have therefore begun distributing food and hygiene products to affected families, although it is not always easy to ensure these reach their intended recipients.

In the initial phase, the Salesian missionaries aim to reach 1,200 people. “We aim to distribute 500 hygiene kits, 100 emergency kits and 500 parcels of essential foodstuffs,” they add. The next phase will focus on reconstruction. “Damaged structures will be assessed; those deemed unsafe will be demolished; and educational, formation and community spaces will be rebuilt in accordance with seismic safety and accessibility standards,” the missionaries explain.

For further information, please visit the “Misiones Salesianas” website.