Shakira pledges to rebuild schools in quake-hit Chocó

Colombian singer Shakira visited Quibdó, capital of the hard-hit Chocó province, on Monday and committed to helping rebuild at least 10 schools and the Technological University of Chocó after the devastating August 10 earthquake. The 7.4-magnitude quake killed at least 287 people and destroyed more than 26,000 homes, according to authorities Source: AP News.

The pledge

Shakira, accompanied by philanthropist Howard Buffett, announced that her Barefoot Foundation (Pies Descalzos) will build ten new schools in Chocó, with Buffett's foundation collaborating Source: AP News. She also pledged to rebuild the Technological University of Chocó Source: Euronews. Global Citizen and Live Nation will each contribute $500,000, totaling $1 million Source: El Mundo.

The context

Chocó is one of Colombia's poorest regions, with most of its 600,000 inhabitants living in poverty Source: AP News. The quake affected over 265 educational sites in the province Source: AP News. Shakira's foundation has worked in Chocó for 22 years, helping around 400 students graduate Source: El Mundo.

Disagreement on death toll

Sources differ on the death toll: AP News and Euronews report 287 dead, while El Mundo cites at least 304 bodies handed to the Institute of Legal Medicine Source: AP News, Euronews, El Mundo. The number of missing is consistently reported as 194 Source: AP News, Euronews.

Shakira called on governments of Canada, Japan, and the UK to join recovery efforts, emphasizing that children's education must not be paused Source: El Mundo.