00:00After the August 10 earthquake in Colombia, citizens took to lead in sustaining hope in areas like Chocó.
00:05Their communities organized a support network due to delayed response from the state.
00:10Tatiana Portela reports from Bogotá.
00:18... stories of unwavering dedication have emerged.
00:22While the Department of Chocó remained completely cut off from communication,
00:26Yasner Moreno did not stop distributing humanitarian aid to his neighbors for four long days,
00:32completely ignoring his own family's fate.
00:39I haven't been able to communicate with my family because there was no electricity or Internet.
00:45This made communication difficult and increased my worry about what was happening in Chocó.
00:50I tried to do things sometimes, but then I stopped because I didn't know what to do.
00:56I even tried calling frequently, but there was no answer, which stressed me out.
01:00I came to this space hoping to find a place that would also allow me to support others,
01:05and that support would, let's say, help steer things a little, while I found out what had happened to my
01:10family.
01:11And in the end, this also goes to people who have suffered in Chocó, so that gave me the strength
01:17to keep going.
01:18Even in difficult and tragic situations, people have the ability to support each other.
01:23Together, we can help each other.
01:26This allows us, as citizens and as a country, to grow, enabling the people to support the people.
01:39Yassner's testimony reflects a constant across the country.
01:43Solidarity turned into the only shield against tragedy.
01:47This conviction motivated Jose Guiraldo to start his truck engine and travel the roads of southwestern Colombia,
01:53delivering tons of relief supplies to the hardest-hit municipalities in Valle del Cauca.
02:03My job is to help people in need.
02:06The saying is clear, today for you, tomorrow for me.
02:09We never know.
02:10We may be fine right now, thank God, but many people need another person's warmth, whether they know them or
02:16not.
02:17With God's blessing, everything will go well, and we will be able to help those in need in Cartago.
02:22May God bless everyone, and may we all have faith and conviction.
02:30However, assistance doesn't only come in the form of boxes and hygiene kits.
02:35Amidst the mountains of medical supplies and food, there are people fighting hopelessness with pencils and paper.
02:42They write letters of encouragement to help strangers rebuild their lives.
02:47To those of you experiencing fear and uncertainty, know that you are not alone.
02:51May you find strength in God, in your families, in those around you, and in all Colombians.
02:56We hope that calm will soon come and fill each day with hope.
03:02A message of hope and faith, that we are far yet close, that we will move forward, that we are
03:09together,
03:10and that we understand how difficult and complex things can be, but we want to do our part.
03:19I think about what I would say to someone who was in front of me and suffering so much.
03:27I think about what I would want to hear if I were in their shoes.
03:31I think about people going through hard times who perhaps haven't heard these kinds of words
03:36because despair and sadness cloud their vision.
03:43A message of hope and faith, that we are far yet close, that we will move forward, that we are
03:53together,
03:54and that we understand how difficult and complex things can be, but we want to do our part.
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