Colombian Earthquake Response: An Update
Emine Mulgrew
8/26/20261 min read
Standing With Families After the Earthquake
When the earthquake struck, it took only moments to undo what families had spent lifetimes building. People across the region reached out to Fundación Malula asking for the most basic things: a roof that keeps the rain out, medicine, and food on the table.
We are a small foundation working directly with communities, what we can promise is that every donation entrusted to us goes directly to the families who need it, quickly, and without being lost along the way.
What your donations have made possible
Thanks to the $2,000 raised so far, we have been able to:
Repair the roofs of two damaged homes, returning two families to shelter that is dry and secure
Distribute more than 300 bags of food supplies to households left without a way to cook or store what little they had
Provide over 80 hygiene kits for women and men, each containing soap, shampoo and period products
Our team continues to travel between communities rather than concentrating our work in one place, so that help reaches families in the smaller and harder-to-reach areas as well.
What we are seeing on the ground
Many of the people we meet are still in shock. They are living beside the rubble of their own homes, and they are trying to work out what comes next while the ground beneath them still feels uncertain.
The honest picture is this: the need is far greater than what we are currently able to cover. Every kit we hand out, every bag of food, is met by another family standing just behind it.
What comes next
Emergency relief keeps people going. Rebuilding is what allows them to move forward.
Our next step is to put incoming donations toward structural materials — the timber, cement and roofing needed to properly reconstruct damaged homes and shared community spaces. We hope to begin that work in the coming weeks.
How you can help
Every contribution translates directly into a repaired roof, a warm meals, or a family's dignity restored through basic hygiene provision. If you would like to be part of what happens next, we would be grateful for your support.
Thank you to everyone who has already given. You have a huge difference to the affected communities.