In Medellín, Saciar Foundation volunteers were sorting food and hygiene products into emergency kits after the August 10 earthquake. RFI reports that the collection point had gathered 35 tonnes of donations in about 48 hours. Trucks were full and scheduled to leave for disaster-hit areas on August 12, but their route, arrival and distribution had not yet been confirmed.
A volume attributed to Saciar by RFI
RFI places the collection point at the Saciar Foundation food bank beside a highway in Medellín. City residents were bringing contributions while volunteers organised the sorting process.
According to RFI, 35 tonnes had been gathered in “barely 48 hours”. The duration remains an approximate indication published by the outlet; the report provides no separate opening or closing time for the collection.
Food and hygiene supplies assembled into kits
Gloria Arango, identified as coordinator of Saciar’s “social market” unit, listed rice, chickpeas, lentils, beans, sugar, salt, oil and canned goods for the food component.
Hygiene supplies included sanitary pads, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper and water, with mouthwash possibly added. This list describes the announced contents of the kits, not quantities distributed.
Full trucks, but transport still only announced
RFI said the trucks were already full and due to leave on Wednesday, August 12, for disaster-hit areas where the kits were to be distributed.
The source confirms neither their actual departure, route, precise destinations, arrival nor handover of the kits. A completed collection, loading, departure, arrival and distribution remain separate stages.
A civilian chain and continuing access difficulties
Wilson Trujillo, a donor interviewed at the site, said he had brought a load gathered by his family and wanted to return with more donations. His account illustrates an individual contribution but cannot measure the whole mobilisation in Medellín.
In a separate part of the report, a hotel manager in Filandia, Quindío, described difficult roads, isolated villages and electricity and communication problems. This is a local witness account, not an official or quantified network assessment.
The confirmations still awaited
The next verifiable stage will be confirmation that the trucks have left, followed by their destinations, arrival and kit distribution. The report links this collection to neither a new presidential statement nor government or international aid.
RFI published the report at 2:35:38 a.m. Colombia time on August 12 and modified it at 3:16:54 a.m. With no separate time for the collection or loading, the entry appears at 2:30 a.m. in the timeline as a retrospective addition.