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Cali Volunteers Provide Extensive Aid and Solidarity Following Major Earthquake

Following the earthquake that struck the western region of Colombia on August 10, residents of Cali have demonstrated significant solidarity through diverse volunteer efforts. Lizeth Valencia, a cosmetologist, has been providing sancocho for rescue workers in the Cuarto de Legua neighborhood, while Mayerli Arrigui, a former street dweller, spent a week leading debris removal efforts in the Cantabria building. Other notable contributors include Pablo Gómez, a volunteer doctor who provided primary health care to rescuers, and the brothers Andrés and Fernando, who utilized their 'Cocina Siete' restaurant to feed over 1,000 people daily. Additionally, Wilson Escobar, known as 'El Gato Escobar,' has rescued dozens of animals from the debris, while Juliana Arias, a marketing professional, coordinated the distribution of supplies and joined over 1,000 volunteers in clearing rubble. These collective efforts highlight a community-wide response where residents from various backgrounds, from the poor to the professionals, prioritized collective aid over political divisions.

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