Colombia’s president cancels attendance at Munich Security Conference due to weather-related emergency
Gustavo Petro says his government is addressing a humanitarian crisis in hard-hit Cordoba as record rainfall leaves thousands affected
ISTANBUL
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced Wednesday that he has canceled his participation at the Munich Security Conference in Germany due to a weather-related emergency affecting communities in the northern department of Cordoba.
In a statement on the US social media company X’s platform, Petro said that Colombian citizens are facing a serious situation caused by winter conditions and the climate crisis.
“At this moment, we continue to address the emergency in Cordoba with the entire national government,” he said.
“You are not alone, and we will never leave you alone!” he added.
A severe climate crisis has left northern Colombia reeling recently as atypical rainfall -- shattering historical records for February -- has triggered a humanitarian emergency.
The disaster has been the most severe in Cordoba, where officials say that 156,000 people have been affected and roughly 80% of the area remains flooded.
