In Bosa a south west suburb of Bogota people’s homes have been flooded since the 7th of December when the open sewer that runs along the community over-flowed leaving people knee deep in dark, pungent water. Though the draining operation led by police, emergency personnel and volunteers has significantly lowered the water level, some families are still, three days later, forced to camp out in their cars and tents. President Santos of Colombia promised $750 in financial compensation to 10,000 affected families, as well as $80 worth of cleaning products for families to sanitize their flood affected homes. Volunteers and emergency personnel have been working to provide meals and drinking water, and a strong police presence in the area has curbed the high crime rate.
Since September, floods and landslides have affected more than half a million Colombians according to the Red Cross. In Bogota some 50,000 people’s homes were flooded after the Bogota River burst its banks.
