Occidental delivered more than 2,000 food packages to its neighboring communities.

In light of the health, economic, and social emergency represented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Occidental de Colombia, LLC (Occidental), Ecopetrol, and the El Alcaraván Foundation delivered 2,078 food packages for the most vulnerable families in the neighboring villages to their oil operations in Arauca.

Complying with the standard established by the National Government Risk Management System, each market donated by Occidental, Ecopetrol, and the Foundation contained 40 units of non-perishable food products and basic necessities, such as: rice, corn flour, oatmeal, pasta, lentils, peas, beans, sugar, chocolate, coffee, cooking oil, salt, tuna, and bath soap. A total of 52 tons of food were delivered. For the selection of beneficiaries, the Departmental Risk Management Committee, Community Action Boards, and other institutional lists were used as information sources.

“The needs of the communities neighboring our operations are growing every day; for that reason, we have made an initial delivery of 2,000 markets and are coordinating other deliveries and additional actions aimed at strengthening the medical infrastructure of the Department.” Stated Patricio Rivera, Vice President of Health, Industrial Safety, Environment, and Responsibility of Occidental, and noted that all these activities are part of the Solidarity Plan that Occidental and Ecopetrol have structured under the slogan “Being Supportive Unites Us.”.

The distribution of aid, which took place over six days, had the daily support of a team of 42 people, including employees of the El Alcaraván Foundation, members of the Civil Defense and Firefighters, who are part of the Municipal Risk Management Council, as well as the accompaniment of a representative from the Regional Attorney's Office and the collaboration of the transport companies Transbril and Cootranstame, who provided their vehicles for the delivery of the markets. 

“We made a great effort to reach the most needy families with aid. It was a huge challenge because we were very rigorous both in identifying the families and in the logistical process, which involved not only obtaining all the products included in the markets but also their disinfection and the delivery of protective equipment for all the personnel who carried out the distribution,” assured María de la Paz García, Social Responsibility Manager of Occidental. She additionally thanked the support of so many people who “in a committed, sincere, and affectionate manner, collaborated in the preparation, transportation, and delivery of the aid.”.

Likewise, within the Solidarity Plan of Occidental, Ecopetrol, and El Alcaraván, the Health Center of the Todos los Santos district was adapted and equipped in recent days, which will have a doctor and a nurse for its operation. From there, medical consultations and nursing care will be provided to patients requiring basic attention, while individuals with symptoms or suspicion of COVID-19 must go to a hospital center or report their health status through line 125 to receive guidance on the case.