Thousands of volunteers delivered medical supplies, water, food, and hygiene kits to the Bogotá Red Cross this Monday, closing a historic solidarity drive for victims of the 7.4 earthquake that struck Colombia on August 10.
For the past seven days, citizen mobilization has been constant at the Red Cross’ administrative headquarters in the Colombian capital.
Milton Bautista, executive director of Red Cross Bogotá, highlighted the sustained community effort during the emergency.
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“We have spent days sleeping little, exhausted, but motivated. It is overwhelming to see that the community keeps coming and coming bringing aid. In Colombia there is a saying that where one eats, two eat, and I believe the Colombian people have made it clear that where two eat, up to three can eat,” Bautista said.
With ten years at the head of the institution, Bautista described this contingency as the largest he has had to manage due to a massive popular participation that keeps him overwhelmed by the heartwarming support of citizens, children, and grandparents who permanently come to pack, load, and mount the donations.
At the collection center, a human chain made up of volunteer citizens was installed to speed up the loading of trucks. On this final day, the collected aid includes water and markets with basic and hygiene kits, which are dispatched in a truck bound for Cali and Casa del Valle for distribution in surrounding municipalities.
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Over 1800 tons Gathered
The director emphasized that the true value of the shipments lies in the collective effort of the population. “Each person gives all they can give and I believe that is what goes in the trucks, the support of the citizens, the affection of the people of Bogotá.”
The overall balance of the coverage records the departure of thousands of trucks, highlighting the more than 1800 tons managed from key points such as El Campín, consolidating national solidarity in the face of the emergency.
Following the devastating earthquake in Colombia on August 10, the most recent official balance from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) records 289 deaths. In the face of this emergency, thousands of families, communities, companies, and Colombian organizations have joined the support and assistance efforts in the affected areas.
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The mobilization in Bogotá demonstrates the strength of citizen solidarity as a fundamental pillar of the response to the Colombia earthquake. The work of volunteers, coordinated by the Red Cross, has allowed the collection of more than 1800 tons of supplies in just one week, providing relief to families in the most affected regions.
While official authorities manage the post-disaster response, the popular movement confirms that collective action remains the most effective resource in moments of national crisis, reflecting a regional tradition of mutual support that transcends borders.
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