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Young volunteers, 'Los Bárbaros,' bring aid and spirit to earthquake-hit Chocó
🇨🇴 Colombia /Disasters & Emergencies

Young volunteers, 'Los Bárbaros,' bring aid and spirit to earthquake-hit Chocó

From El Tiempo · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • 'Los Bárbaros,' a group of 120-150 young volunteers, are providing humanitarian aid in Chocó, Colombia, after a major earthquake.
  • They form human chains to quickly unload and distribute supplies like food and water.
  • The group's joyful approach aims to uplift affected communities.

A group of 120 to 150 young volunteers, known as 'Los Bárbaros' (The Barbarians), are making a significant impact in Colombia's Chocó region following a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake. These volunteers have gone viral on social media for their efficient and spirited work in ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need.

Upon the arrival of supply trucks, Los Bárbaros quickly organize into human chains. They pass bags of food, boxes of drinking water, and hygiene kits from hand to hand, significantly speeding up the distribution process at collection centers. This method ensures that essential supplies are delivered directly to the affected population without delay.

If we are living through an emergency like this and we young people arrive with sadness to the neighborhoods, I feel it's not very fitting for who we are. That's why we always arrive with attitude, with joy, with folklore so that people can catch that spirit

— Yoswar Morenoexplained the group's approach to bringing aid to earthquake-affected communities.

Yoswar Moreno, a member of Los Bárbaros who goes by "DJ Yomo," explained the group's unique approach in an interview. He stated that their aim is to reflect the vibrant spirit of the Pacific region. "If we are living through an emergency like this and we young people arrive with sadness to the neighborhoods, I feel it's not very fitting for who we are. That's why we always arrive with attitude, with joy, with folklore so that people can catch that spirit," Moreno said.

The governor of Chocó, Nubia Carolina Córdoba, publicly praised the group's efforts. In a video shared on X, she highlighted how these young people are managing the incoming supplies. "All the trucks that have entered our department these days, thanks to the good heart and solidarity of all the Colombian people, are in the hands of these young men," Córdoba stated. She emphasized the local population's resilience and capacity to overcome adversity through hard work and dynamism, thanking the country for its aid.

All the trucks that have entered our department these days, thanks to the good heart and solidarity of all the Colombian people, are in the hands of these young men

— Nubia Carolina Córdobahighlighted the volunteers' role in managing and distributing aid.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Tiempo in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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