When Colombia’s Aid Network Broke Down, AI Stepped In

When Colombia’s Aid Network Broke Down, AI Stepped In
For civilians near Colombia’s earthquake zone, improvised generosity moved faster than the state but struggled to reach the right people. An AI-built website became a practical bridge between scattered donation hubs and communities in need.

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck last month, knocking out water, electricity and cellphone service for more than 1.5 million people. It killed more than 300 people and injured over 4,500, officials said, with the epicenter in a remote, impoverished region where the damage quickly became a humanitarian emergency.

Residents responded by turning homes, cafés, universities, churches, gyms and even a brewery into informal aid points. But the civilian network was chaotic: some locations had food but no water, while others had water but no clothing. Supplies did not always match demand; diapers vanished, and at one point underwear became the urgent shortage.

Sebastián Mejía, who opened three collection points at his Pereira coffee shops, summed up the problem bluntly: “We’re very disorganized when it comes to the donation drop-off points and the distribution of help.” He contacted Felipe Restrepo Lebrun, a tech entrepreneur, to ask whether an app could help coordinate the relief effort.

Spotty internet delayed the message until the following day. Once Restrepo Lebrun received it, however, he used AI to build a website within two hours that mapped donation points and organized what aid was available. The project echoed civilian-led disaster responses elsewhere in the region: not a replacement for public authorities, but a rapid attempt to fill the gaps when official systems and basic infrastructure had failed.

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