Colombia Earthquake Survivors Outraged As President Hands Out Footballs Amid Aid Crisis | Sahara Reporters

One resident, visibly angered by the development, questioned the government’s priorities, pointing to the destruction of schools and health facilities in the area.

Residents of an earthquake-hit city in western Colombia have expressed outrage after President Abelardo de la Espriella was seen handing out footballs bearing what appeared to be his presidential campaign logo, as survivors continue to demand urgent assistance following the devastating earthquake.

A video shared by Al Jazeera showed the Colombian president with footballs being distributed in an affected community, prompting anger among residents who said basic necessities, including healthcare, education and food, remained in critical shortage following the disaster.

One resident, visibly angered by the development, questioned the government’s priorities, pointing to the destruction of schools and health facilities in the area.

“Here we have a health crisis, an education crisis. More than 26 schools collapsed, 26 schools! The hospital’s health services have collapsed,” the resident said in the video.

“How is it possible that people receive a football with a logo they spent more than 1 billion pesos ($322.316) on while children are dying of hunger? That is utter wretchedness and that is an outrage against us,” the resident added.

The footballs appeared to bear the logo associated with De La Espriella’s presidential campaign, according to the report, raising questions among residents about the use of public resources and the appropriateness of political branding during an ongoing humanitarian emergency.

The controversy comes days after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, killing about 290 people and leaving more than 140 others missing, according to figures reported on Sunday.

More than 4,200 people have also been injured, while homes, schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure were destroyed or badly damaged, according to Reuters.

The disaster has particularly affected cities including Cali and Pereira, with emergency workers still searching through unstable rubble as rescue operations gradually move into recovery efforts.

The earthquake has placed enormous pressure on De La Espriella, who had only recently assumed office when the disaster struck. His administration has announced reconstruction measures and an emergency fund for rebuilding homes, hospitals, schools and other infrastructure destroyed by the quake.

The controversy over the footballs is particularly sensitive because some of the hardest-hit areas were already facing serious socioeconomic challenges before the earthquake.

The World Bank estimates that 35.5 per cent of Colombia’s population lived in poverty in 2025 and projects the rate at 34.8 per cent in 2026. The bank also expects Colombia’s economy to grow by about 2.2 per cent this year, indicating continued economic expansion but relatively modest improvement in living standards.

The International Monetary Fund similarly projects 2.3 per cent real GDP growth for Colombia in 2026, with consumer prices expected to rise by 5.9 per cent.

For communities already struggling with poverty and limited access to essential services, the earthquake has compounded existing vulnerabilities. The situation is particularly severe in poorer and more remote areas, where damaged infrastructure can make the delivery of emergency assistance more difficult.

International assistance has begun reaching the affected regions, with foreign governments and other organisations providing emergency supplies, rescue personnel and financial support. The United States has pledged millions of dollars in assistance, while wealthy Colombian individuals and families have also announced substantial contributions toward reconstruction.

But for residents still waiting for immediate relief, the reported distribution of campaign-branded footballs has become a symbol of what they describe as misplaced priorities.