CALI, Colombia (AP) 鈥� As the search for survivors in the rubble of winds down, Colombia faces another challenge: shattered by a disaster that killed at least 285 people and affected more than 100,000.
Tens of thousands of houses were damaged or destroyed, according to the government. Authorities have also reported damage to thousands of schools, medical facilities and community centers in more than 400 cities.
鈥淭here is no place to live, we lost everything,鈥� Ebert Jonathan Morales, 38, told The Associated Press from a shelter in Cali, one of the hardest-hit cities along with Pereira, Manizales and Quibdo.
Morales is one of the 102,263 people whose lives have been upended by the 7.4 magnitude quake that struck the South American country Monday. The government says more than 280 people died, nearly 4,000 people were injured and . Private groups estimate the number of missing is in the thousands.
Like tens of thousands of others, Morales is trying to rebuild his life from scratch with his wife and four children.
鈥淭he earthquake destroyed several neighborhoods in the city. Many houses were damaged, and buildings collapsed,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are going to stay here until the government gives us some help, some support.鈥�
The government focuses on providing shelter
The Colombia鈥檚 President , who was inaugurated just days before the earthquake shook the country’s west. De la Espriella Thursday night that 鈥渢he situation is complex鈥� and announced a plan to partner with private companies to rebuild the nation, as well as subsidies for families who are homeless.
鈥淲e will not overcome this tragedy alone as a government,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need the private sector to rebuild Colombia together.鈥�
Monday鈥檚 earthquake was the most powerful to hit Colombia this century. Government aid has yet to arrive in some areas, where many people are relying on volunteers and neighbors for help.
鈥淎 neighbor is giving me shelter,鈥� Olga Castro, a mother of five, told The Associated Press. 鈥淎t least we survived, but right now we are practically on the street because we don鈥檛 have a home anymore.鈥�
De la Espriella said national and international funds raised in response to the disaster will focus on the reconstruction of hospitals, schools, homes, roads and airports.
But requires a 鈥渟erious technical assessment鈥� to determine which buildings can be used, which can be repaired and which must be demolished and rebuilt, said Yezid Alvarado Vargas, a professor in construction engineering at Javeriana University, in Bogota, Colombia.
鈥淏efore even discussing reconstruction, we must guarantee temporary housing, food, healthcare, continuity of basic services and economic support for families who lost their homes or livelihoods,鈥� Alvarado said.
National and international aid keeps coming
Local authorities opened schools, parks and public buildings as shelters, providing tents, mattresses and food to the displaced. In other parts of the hardest-hit cities, residents improvised shelters in the streets, while hundreds of volunteers rush to help those in greatest need, particularly in less accessible areas.
鈥淭hese are isolated, neglected territories, historically lacking in institutional support, already plagued by violence, and now they are hit by an earthquake of this magnitude,鈥� said Mar铆a Mercedes Li茅vano, director of Save the Children in Colombia.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a crisis on top of a crisis, leaving the population in a situation of extreme vulnerability,鈥� she added, citing communities including Buenaventura, the country鈥檚 main port, and Choc贸, the earthquake鈥檚 epicenter.
De la Espriella is expected to visit several cities Friday to track relief efforts and aid distribution, including Quibdo, in the Choc贸 region, and Pereira. Meanwhile, authorities are awaiting tons of supplies and humanitarian aid from countries that have pledged their support, among them Peru, China, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
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Suarez reported from Bogota, Colombia and Batschke reported from Santiago, Chile.
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