'/%3E%3C/svg%3E){kind=small}
'/%3E%3Cpath%20fill='%23b2b2b2'%20d='M241%20382q0%2016%2017%2026%2017%2011%2042%2011t42-11q16-11%2017-26V269H241'/%3E%3Cpath%20fill='%239f7e00'%20d='M241%20379q0%2014%208%2023%209%209%2021%209%2014%200%2021-9%209-9%209-23V269h-59'/%3E%3Cpath%20d='M241%20339v-70h59v110q0%2014-9%2023l-6%205v-68h-15v72q-8%200-14-4v-68zm59%2040c0%2022%2015%2032%2029%2032%2021%200%2030-18%2030-32v-40h-59'/%3E%3Cpath%20fill='%239f7e00'%20d='M266%20277v5h2v12h-3v-5h2v-5h-9v5h2v5h-4v9h3v18h-5v10h34v-10h-5v-18h3v-9h-4v-5h2v-5h-9v5h2v5h-3v-12h2v-5zm42%20101q0%2010%206%2017%206%206%2015%207%2010-1%2016-7%206-7%206-17v-29h-43'/%3E%3Ccircle%20fill='%230044ad'%20cx='329.5'%20cy='372'%20r='6'/%3E%3Cellipse%20fill='%230044ad'%20cx='300'%20cy='340'%20rx='16'%20ry='21'/%3E%3C/svg%3E){kind=small}
By Asocaña, Colombia –
At 7:34 a.m. on August 10, southwestern Colombia was shaken by a 7.4-magnitude earthquake centered in San José del Palmar. The disaster claimed 335 lives, affected more than 314,000 people, and caused damage to homes and infrastructure across hundreds of municipalities, including Cali and Pereira.
The emergency struck across the operational area of Colombia’s sugarcane agribusiness, which spans 50 municipalities in four departments: Valle del Cauca, Cauca, Risaralda, and Caldas. This extensive territorial presence, combined with close ties to local communities and the operational capacity of sugar mills, enabled Asocaña and its members to quickly identify needs and immediately mobilize personnel, machinery, transportation, and supplies.
Working in coordination with government authorities and emergency response organizations, Asocaña brought together the sector’s resources and capabilities to address urgent needs and support essential services. The response included the distribution of more than 21,000 food packages, drinking water, and supplies for shelter, clothing, healthcare, and hygiene across more than 30 communities, as well as support for hospitals, shelters, and rescue teams.
During the first few days, electricity was secured for the rescue workers’ camp in Cali and for temporary camps housing displaced residents in northern Valle del Cauca. Mattresses were provided to support patient care at Hospital Universitario del Valle, the region’s largest public healthcare facility, while community kitchens and shelters in several municipalities received additional support. Sugar mills also contributed machinery and equipment to clear debris and donated 50 metric tons of sugar to the Cali Food Bank, which distributed food packages throughout the region. These contributions helped meet families’ immediate needs while ensuring the continued operation of emergency services.
The mobilization brought together the sugar mills and sugarcane growers affiliated with Asocaña, along with 16 public- and private-sector partners in Colombia. Global Empowerment Mission, an organization specializing in disaster relief, also joined the network. This partnership combined the organization’s humanitarian response capabilities with the sugarcane agribusiness sector’s logistics expertise and local knowledge, making it possible to receive, transport, and distribute relief supplies. It also helped strengthen volunteer fire departments by providing tools and equipment to respond to future emergencies.
Supporting affected employees was another key component of the response. Sugar mills conducted assessments and provided financial, psychosocial, and technical assistance to workers whose homes had been damaged or who had suffered family losses. At the same time, they worked to maintain production and safeguard jobs—an essential step in protecting the livelihoods of thousands of families and preventing the disaster from deepening the economic challenges facing local communities.
With the immediate emergency behind them, the reconstruction of homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and businesses must move forward alongside the recovery of jobs and household incomes. The collective effort that made the earthquake response possible provides a strong foundation for this next phase. In this regard, Asocaña and the sugar mills continue to lead initiatives aimed at helping municipalities get back on their feet.
Together with the Valle del Cauca Cycling League, the Valle del Cauca Governor’s Office, and the Mayor’s Office of Roldanillo, they will organize the Clásica El Valle Renace 2026: Roldanillo Vuelve a Rodar, a cycling race accompanied by an entrepreneurship fair. The event aims to attract visitors and help revitalize tourism, retail, and the hospitality industry in northern Valle del Cauca.
Through this initiative, sports and local businesses are expected to play a meaningful role in the region’s recovery, helping communities rebuild and look toward the future with renewed confidence.