Pictured above: on the left, Rosmira Osorio and her family; on the right, the coffee farm and home of the Osorio family
We worked so hard to make our home beautiful. The earthquake is so sad, because now we are left without a home. I always dreamed of having my own house, and just six months ago we were finally able to live on our farm. But that dream changed. What I need most right now is a place to live again.
Rosmira Osorio (pictured above)
Our support to farmers in the state of Risaralda
For more than a decade, Solidaridad has worked with coffee producers in the department of Risaralda, located just 50 kilometers from the earthquake’s epicenter. Rosmira Osorio and her family are among the 180 farming families in the municipalities of Santuario, Belén, Quinchía, and Mistrató in Risaralda who were hardest hit by the disaster and are suffering from its consequences.
Our on-the-ground needs assessment revealed that:
- 80% of affected coffee growers suffered partial loss or damage to their homes and processing units.
- 20% of affected coffee growers suffered total loss or severe destruction of their homes and processing units.
From long-term sustainability to urgent disaster support
At Solidaridad, we advocate for a long-term perspective on building resilience and sustainability in global supply chains, such as coffee. Coffee farmers are already experiencing negative effects of climate change. Solidaridad works closely with farmers to ensure their livelihoods are improved whilst the coffee is produced sustainably. Due to the high urgency, we have launched a campaign to support these brave people through the earthquake’s devastating effects.
We have been growing coffee for 21 years. Because of the earthquake, the three bedrooms where my daughters and I slept collapsed. The area where we dry our coffee was also damaged, along with other parts of our farm. We’ve had to stay at my mother’s house until we can rebuild what we lost.
Yuliana Tamayo
Making a contribution
Based on our on-the-ground assessment, we identified these urgent actions.
Rebuild homes and coffee processing facilities:
- Supply, transport, and coordinate logistics for construction materials.
- Provide transport and logistics for volunteer experts in rural construction, focusing on homes that suffered total loss.
Address the aftermath of the disaster while preparing farms for upcoming climate challenges:
- Provide technical advice on earthquake resilience alongside preparation for severe weather events, such as the “Super El Niño.”
The impact of the earthquake was devastating for us. We had a community center, and that is gone. In my case, I can’t live in my house anymore. I am hoping to get at least the materials for my roof so I can overcome this situation.
Luis López
On behalf of coffee farming families and communities in Colombia, and all the Solidaridad staff working together on this disaster relief, our heartfelt thank you for your support.
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