India, Oct. 6 -- The 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10 has compounded existing protection threats in Buenaventura, where displaced families are facing damaged homes, restricted access, lost documents and heightened risks to children, women and community leaders. A Rapid Protection Assessment by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) found that the disaster has intensified vulnerabilities already linked to armed conflict and organised crime.
Housing losses add to displacement
The assessment, conducted from August 26 to September 3, found that 31,654 families, or 67,591 people, had registered as affected in Buenaventura by September 7. Nearly 9,600 homes were considered uninhabitable, while 1,782 were destroyed an...