Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has come under fire after handing out footballs to victims of a devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake instead of immediate relief supplies.
The controversy emerged during the president’s visit to Buenaventura, one of the coastal areas badly affected by the earthquake.
In a clip seen by TNX Africa, de la Espriella is seen handing yellow footballs bearing the logo and slogan of his political group, “Defensores de la Patria” (Defenders of the Homeland), to residents of the disaster-hit community.
The gesture sparked anger among residents and political observers, who said displaced families were struggling to access necessities, including food, clean water, medical supplies and temporary shelter.
Local hospitals were also overwhelmed, while homes and schools were destroyed.
A resident criticised the move, telling Al Jazeera that the region was facing a major health and education crisis.
“Here we have a health and education crisis. More than 26 schools collapsed. The hospital health service has collapsed. How is it possible that people receive a football with a logo that spent more than (Sh7.6 billion) 1 billion pesos while children are dying of hunger?” the resident said.
The resident described the gesture as an outrage, amid the devastation caused by the earthquake.
Government officials, however, defended the president’s visit, saying essential aid was being deployed to affected communities.
They pointed to efforts to send medical teams, distribute emergency supplies and provide housing subsidies to displaced families.
Despite the assurances, frustration has continued over the pace of relief and recovery efforts, with critics accusing the administration of mishandling the disaster and using the visit for political publicity.
The earthquake struck western Colombia, killing nearly 300 people and leaving thousands injured, according to figures from Colombian authorities.
The disaster agency UNGRD has reported between 289 and 298 deaths, while the Institute of Legal Medicine has received 304 bodies linked to the disaster.
Between 3,900 and 4,187 people have been injured, while dozens to hundreds remain missing as rescue teams continue searching through collapsed buildings and debris.
The hardest-hit areas include Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda and Caldas, as well as cities such as Cali and Pereira. More than 120,000 families across 15 provinces have been affected or displaced.
Authorities have warned that the death toll could rise as search-and-rescue teams reach isolated rural communities and assess the extent of the destruction.
