In the aftermath of the powerful earthquake that struck western Colombia, the city of Cali has become a landscape of shattered concrete and dust. Yet amid the debris, a small but striking gesture of humanity has taken root: a makeshift 'hugs here' station where volunteers offer free embraces and a moment of calm to anyone who needs it.
The station, set up near one of the worst-hit neighbourhoods, is the brainchild of Andres Solomon, a local resident who wanted to address the emotional toll of the disaster. As rescue teams work around the clock to clear rubble and search for survivors, Solomon and a group of volunteers are providing what they call 'emotional first aid'.
“People are in shock. They have lost homes, loved ones, everything. Sometimes a hug is the only thing that makes sense,” Solomon told European Pulse. The initiative has grown organically, with volunteers taking shifts to ensure the station is staffed from early morning until night.
Solidarity in the face of devastation
The earthquake, which struck with a magnitude of 7.4, has killed at least 216 people and injured hundreds more, according to the latest official figures. Cali, a city of over two million, has been particularly hard hit, with entire blocks reduced to rubble. The Colombian government has imposed curfews in Cali and Pereira to maintain order and facilitate rescue operations.
While international aid has begun to arrive, including an emergency package from the European Union, the immediate response has been driven by local communities. The 'hugs here' station is one of several grassroots initiatives that have sprung up, offering food, water, and psychological support to survivors.
“We cannot compete with the machinery of the rescue teams, but we can offer something they cannot: a human connection,” said volunteer Maria Fernanda Rojas, who was handing out water bottles and comforting a young mother. The station has become a gathering point for residents to share stories, cry, and begin the slow process of healing.
The European Union has pledged €2 million in emergency aid and is providing satellite imagery to help coordinate the relief effort. The bloc’s support underscores the global dimension of the tragedy, but for those on the ground, the immediate need is for simple, human gestures.
As the sun sets over Cali, the sound of pickaxes and shovels mingles with the murmur of voices at the hugs station. Solomon and his team are already planning for the weeks ahead, knowing that the psychological scars will take far longer to heal than the physical ones.
“We will be here as long as it takes,” Solomon said, embracing an elderly man who had just learned his house was beyond repair. “A hug is not a solution, but it is a start.”
