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Earthquake: Andi's congress campaign has raised $10 billion
CO🏛️ PoliticsCenter10 days ago

Earthquake: Andi's congress campaign has raised $10 billion

The Colombian Association of Industries (Andi) launched a fundraising campaign called 'Empresas Unidas por Colombia' during its annual congress in Cartagena to support relief efforts after a recent earthquake. The campaign has already raised over $10 billion from contributions by companies and Andi allies, including major firms like Bancolombia, Alpina, PepsiCo, and international organizations such as the Bank of Development of Latin America (CAF). The initiative involves collection centers managed in collaboration with organizations like the Food Bank Association of Colombia (Abaco) and the Medicine Bank. Vice President José Manuel Restrepo, representing President Abelardo de la Espriella, expressed gratitude for the private sector’s support and emphasized the government’s commitment to working closely with businesses. The Ministry of Justice also praised the campaign, highlighting its role in rebuilding affected regions and aiding those impacted by the disaster. Meanwhile, the president declared a state of economic emergency, allowing the issuance of decrees with legal force without congressional approval, which could last up to 90 days.

The Colombian business community has launched a major fundraising campaign following the devastating earthquake that struck the country on August 10, 2026. The initiative, called Empresas Unidas por Colombia, was spearheaded during the Andi Congress held in Cartagena and has already raised over $10 billion in contributions from companies and allies of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers of Colombia (Andi). This effort marks one of the largest collective donations in recent history, aimed at supporting recovery efforts in the regions affected by the quake. The campaign began as part of the Andi Congress, which was adjusted to focus on emergency relief. The initiative received support from key private-sector players including Bancolombia, Alquería, Alpina, PepsiCo, CESA, Terpel, Grupo Nova, the Latin American Development Bank (CAF), Geopark, Grupo Nutresa, and Andi itself. The funds will be managed through collection centers and coordinated with organizations such as the Colombian Food Bank Association (Abaco), the Medicine Bank, and the Andi Foundation. Bruce MacMaster, president of Andi, emphasized that these resources will directly benefit communities impacted by the disaster. Although the new administration did not attend the congress in person due to the emergency, Vice President José Manuel Restrepo sent a video message from Chocó, expressing gratitude for the sector’s support. His remarks were echoed by the Ministry of Justice, which praised the campaign led by Andi and its affiliates, stating that the funds would help rebuild infrastructure and assist victims. The ministry noted that more than 45,000 homes have been damaged, according to the National University of Colombia's Research Group on Natural Disasters (Ungrd). President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national economic emergency, granting his government the authority to issue decrees with the force of law without congressional approval. These measures include the creation of the Fondo Milagro, a fund intended to channel both domestic and international financial aid toward reconstruction. The decree also outlines plans to stimulate economic activity by reducing barriers to investment and generating employment in affected areas. According to Finance Minister Miguel Gómez, no new taxes will be introduced in the near term. In addition to corporate donations, public figures have contributed to the relief effort. The Colombian Football Federation (FCF) and CONMEBOL jointly donated $1 million, which will be channeled through initiatives led by First Lady Ana Lucía Pineda and Vice President Tatiana Céspedes. Meanwhile, some individuals have drawn criticism for their responses during the crisis. Influencer Melissa Gate faced backlash after sharing a humorous take on her decision not to evacuate during the earthquake, claiming she wanted to stay with her belongings in case of further damage. Many social media users questioned the appropriateness of her comments amid widespread suffering. As the nation continues to recover, the scale of the response highlights the resilience and solidarity of Colombia’s private sector and civil society. With ongoing efforts focused on rebuilding infrastructure and restoring livelihoods, the coming weeks will determine how effectively this unprecedented level of support translates into tangible progress for the affected communities.

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La Silla Vacía logoLa Silla VacíaIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 8510 days ago
Earthquake: Andi's congress campaign has raised $10 billion

The Colombian Association of Industries (Andi) launched a fundraising campaign called 'Empresas Unidas por Colombia' during its annual congress in Cartagena to support relief efforts after a recent earthquake. The campaign has already raised over $10 billion from contributions by companies and Andi allies, including major firms like Bancolombia, Alpina, PepsiCo, and international organizations such as the Bank of Development of Latin America (CAF). The initiative involves collection centers managed in collaboration with organizations like the Food Bank Association of Colombia (Abaco) and the Medicine Bank. Vice President José Manuel Restrepo, representing President Abelardo de la Espriella, expressed gratitude for the private sector’s support and emphasized the government’s commitment to working closely with businesses. The Ministry of Justice also praised the campaign, highlighting its role in rebuilding affected regions and aiding those impacted by the disaster. Meanwhile, the president declared a state of economic emergency, allowing the issuance of decrees with legal force without congressional approval, which could last up to 90 days.

Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced overview of the fundraising campaign initiated by Andi, mentioning both the private sector's contributions and the government's involvement through the vice president and the Ministry of Justice. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or ommi

Why factuality (95): The article provides specific details about the fundraising campaign by the Andi, including the amount raised ($10.478 million), the name of the campaign (#EmpresasUnidasporColombia), and mentions of participating organizations like Abaco and CAF. These details align with the cross-source consensus

Why objectivity (85): The article presents the information in a neutral manner, focusing on facts such as the amount raised, the participation of different organizations, and the government’s response. However, there is some emphasis on the political role of Vice President José Manuel Restrepo, which may introduce a slig

Semana logoSemanaIndependentCenterFactual 90Objective 9011 days ago
The device you should have at home in case of an earthquake: it allows you to charge your mobile phone without electricity

El artículo informa sobre el terremoto de magnitud 7,4 que afectó a varias ciudades de Colombia el 10 de agosto, destacando la importancia de tener alternativas de energía para mantener funcionales dispositivos electrónicos durante interrupciones del suministro eléctrico. Se menciona que las baterías portátiles, o power banks, son una solución práctica para cargar teléfonos, tablets y portátiles sin necesidad de enchufes tradicionales. Se explica cómo seleccionar una batería según su capacidad en miliamperios-hora (mAh) y cómo usarla correctamente durante una emergencia, incluyendo la necesidad de mantenerla siempre cargada y la posibilidad de cargar múltiples dispositivos simultáneamente.

Bias read (Center): El artículo se centra en información técnica y preventiva relacionada con la seguridad durante desastres naturales, sin tomar partido político ni presentar opiniones sesgadas. Presenta datos objetivos sobre las baterías portátiles y su uso en emergencias, sin favorecer a ningún grupo político o ide学

Why factuality (90): The article accurately describes the earthquake of magnitude 7.4 that occurred on August 10, 2026, and discusses practical advice for preparing during emergencies, such as using portable batteries. The information is consistent with the cross-source consensus, though it does not mention the fundrais

Why objectivity (90): The article maintains an objective tone, providing factual information about emergency preparedness without taking sides or expressing opinion. It focuses on practical advice rather than political or social commentary.

Semana logoSemanaIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 7512 days ago
Melissa Gate uncovered the reason why she didn't evacuate during the earthquake and received criticism on networks

A strong earthquake that shook Colombia on August 10 generated concern among millions of citizens and led to varied reactions on social media. While several public figures expressed solidarity with those affected, others faced criticism for their remarks during the emergency. Melissa Gate, a content creator, shared a video explaining her decision not to evacuate during the quake, stating she wanted to stay with her belongings if a more severe situation occurred. Her humorous comments sparked controversy, with some followers criticizing her for being inappropriate during a crisis and questioning whether someone with a large audience should make jokes during an emergency. The backlash included calls for her followers to stop following her and demands for an explanation.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced view of the controversy surrounding Melissa Gate’s comments without overtly favoring any side. It reports on both the public reaction and the nature of her statements without taking a clear ideological stance. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the event and the

Why factuality (85): The article provides factual information about Melissa Gate’s comments regarding her decision not to evacuate during the earthquake. It includes direct quotes and mentions the public reaction. However, it does not provide additional context about the broader impact of the earthquake beyond her perso

Why objectivity (75): The article leans slightly into the negative reactions to Melissa Gate’s comments, emphasizing criticism from some users. This framing might suggest a more critical stance towards her actions, introducing a subtle bias despite reporting both her statements and the public’s mixed responses.

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