Colombia declares humanitarian emergencies in Guaviare and Casanare as floods isolate communities

Mayor Farid Camilo Castaño of Calamar, Guaviare, announced a humanitarian emergency after river closures on the Unilla and Itilla rivers cut off dozens of rural communities. The suspension of fluvial transport for nearly two weeks halted food supplies, commerce and income for families, many of whom survived on fish and wild game. The mayor said the partial reopening of navigation has not yet alleviated the deep economic and social impacts, and he called on armed groups to respect civilians while the national government and the Colombian Red Cross mobilize aid.

In the neighboring department of Casanare, Governor César Ortiz Zorro declared a public calamity on 10 July due to intense rains, floods, landslides and windstorms. A humanitarian caravan has delivered food kits, hygiene items, mattresses and blankets to more than 6,000 families out of the 10,200 affected. Ongoing operations, coordinated with risk‑management agencies and local authorities, continue to reach isolated villages across municipalities such as La Salina, Sácama and San Luis de Palenque.