By Sardar Khan Niazi

The people of Colombia are confronting a moment of profound grief following the devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the country on August 10. The disaster has claimed hundreds of lives, injured thousands and left communities searching desperately for loved ones beneath collapsed buildings. At such a time, statistics can never capture the full human cost. Behind every number is a family whose plans were shattered in seconds, a child who lost a parent, a worker who may no longer have a home to return to, and communities facing an uncertain tomorrow. The rescue of survivors from the rubble, including people found alive after many hours, has offered precious moments of hope amid overwhelming sorrow. Colombia’s tragedy is also a reminder that natural disasters do not discriminate, but their consequences are often greatest for those living in vulnerable buildings and communities. Experts point to the importance of strong construction standards, rigorous enforcement, disaster preparedness and effective emergency-response systems in reducing earthquake deaths. For the international community, sympathy must be accompanied by solidarity. Emergency assistance, medical support, shelter, reconstruction expertise and sustained humanitarian aid will be needed long after the television cameras move on. The first priority must be saving lives; the next must be helping survivors rebuild with dignity and greater security. Pakistan, a country that has itself experienced devastating earthquakes, understands the pain of watching homes collapse and communities mourn. Our response should therefore be more than a formal expression of condolence. The suffering of Colombians should awaken a shared sense of human responsibility: when disaster strikes anywhere, compassion must cross borders. The coming days will test Colombia’s rescue services, government institutions and communities. But they will also reveal the strength of ordinary people who refuse to abandon one another. Our hearts go out to the people of Colombia. May those still waiting for their loved ones find them safe, may the injured receive the care they need, and may those who have lost family and home find the courage and support to begin again. In Colombia’s hour of grief, the world must not look away.  Colombia is living through an hour of profound grief. The Colombian government has declared three days of national mourning as the scale of the tragedy continues to unfold. In moments like this, the language of numbers can become painfully inadequate. A death toll may tell us the scale of a disaster, but it cannot tell the story of an individual life suddenly lost. It cannot measure a mother’s anguish, a child’s fear or the silence that follows the loss of a loved one. The international response must therefore extend beyond expressions of sympathy. Colombia needs sustained humanitarian support, medical assistance, shelter, reconstruction resources and expertise. The immediate priority is saving lives and caring for survivors; the longer-term responsibility is helping devastated communities rebuild safer homes and more resilient infrastructure. For countries such as Pakistan, where communities have endured their own devastating earthquakes, Colombia’s suffering should feel especially close. We know that the pain does not end when the shaking stops. It continues in the camps, hospitals, damaged homes and grieving families long after the headlines disappear. That is why the world must not look away. Colombia’s hour of grief is a reminder of our shared humanity. Borders may separate nations, but disaster, sorrow and hope belong to us all. Our hearts are with Colombia. May the missing be found, the injured receive care, the bereaved find strength, and those who have survived find the support they need to rebuild. In Colombia’s hour of grief, the world must not look away.