Hurricane Eta and Hurricane Iota decimated 98% of the infrastructure in Providencia and Santa Catalina and caused hundreds of families in San Andrés to lose their homes, businesses, and all their belongings.

These back-to-back storms were a double whammy for a region that has gone more than 100 years without experiencing hurricanes of this magnitude. This crisis happened against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has already harmed people’s health, eliminated their jobs, and stunted the islands’ tourism-based economy.

These islands are home to nearly 90,000 people, many of whom are of Indigenous Afro-Caribbean and Miskito Indian heritage, known locally as “Raizales.” Raizales are the islands’ original inhabitants from nearly four centuries ago and have a distinct history, Creole language, and culture that predate their current ties to mainland Colombia. Raizales consider the seas of the entire archipelago as their territory, including one of the world’s largest barrier reefs.

“As our people recover, we can bring back our environment to what it used to be,” says Arlin Bent Robinson, a member of the Raizal community in San Andrés.

As an island descendent, Panta Rhea Foundation CEO Connie Archbold Robinson Malloy understands that Indigenous and Afro-Caribbean people are often left out of decision making by governments that prioritize corporate and political interests over people’s safety and well-being. Yet, local leaders are best equipped with the power, knowledge, and experience to ensure a just and equitable recovery in the wake of these storms and others yet to come.