President Abelardo De La Espriella publicly recognised the work of first lady Ana Lucía Pineda during his first presidential address on the night of August 17. The praise specifically referred to Pineda's work in responding to the emergency caused by the earthquake that struck Colombia on August 10.
The recognition came during De La Espriella's first speech after his inauguration, at a moment marked by the tragedy that has characterised the start of his term. The head of state noted that the response to the emergency must be accompanied by the unity of Colombians and joint work to rebuild the affected regions.
According to De La Espriella, Pineda has led the collection, organisation and distribution of humanitarian aid through the campaign "Colombia, One Heart", in coordination with Las Tigresas de la Patria, thousands of volunteers and the private sector. The president stated that through this effort, hundreds of tonnes of essential items have been channelled to families affected by the earthquake.
