Following recent earthquakes that struck Colombia and Venezuela, the Association Monégasque Ibéro-Américaine (AMI) has launched an urgent call for solidarity, inviting the community in Monaco to contribute support for those affected.
The appeal comes in the wake of a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia’s Chocó region on August 10, centred near San José del Palmar. The quake, Colombia’s strongest recorded this century, was felt as far afield as Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru, and left at least 132 people dead and hundreds more injured, with entire buildings collapsed across cities including Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Armenia. Colombia has since declared a state of natural disaster, deploying emergency teams to the worst-affected areas as authorities continue working to restore power, telecommunications and damaged infrastructure.
The disaster follows an even deadlier set of earthquakes that struck Venezuela in late June, when two major tremors devastated the capital Caracas and the surrounding region, killing more than 6,300 people and leaving tens of thousands more injured or missing, among the deadliest natural disasters the region has faced in recent memory.
Founded to build cultural and social ties between Monaco and the Ibero-American world, AMI has long served as a bridge between the Principality and Latin America, Spain and Portugal, regularly organising cultural events in Monaco to raise funds supporting humanitarian projects across the region. The association’s annual charity gala, held at the Yacht Club de Monaco and typically drawing prominent guests from across the Principality, has in past years funded initiatives including solidarity restaurants in Latin America, reflecting the kind of grassroots humanitarian work AMI is now hoping to expand in response to the latest crisis.
Those wishing to make a donation or learn more about the appeal can contact the association directly at amimonaco21@gmail.com or through its social media channels.