“The people have had to save the people, but out of necessity.” Josep Carrasco qualifies the phrase “Sols el poble saves the poble”, because he, like so many other residents of Algemesi (València), expected a prompt reaction from the administrations to the catastrophe caused by DANA in the Valencian Country. “At the political level, action has been delayed, which has caused outrage, because society expected a quick response. We have felt abandoned“.
Josep looks around and can touch solidarity. People who have moved from nearby towns to help them. He counts around thirty friends, accompanied by family, in the streets and houses. Observe how Cartagena’s firefighters work. He sees people walking in from the outskirts, where they have left their cars, with food and cleaning products. “It has been spectacular and wonderful. Without them, it would not have been possible to even move around the town.”
However, he is aware that solidarity is not enough. “Let’s not romanticize the phrase Only the people save the people. Their help was necessary, but because the political institutions have not acted as they should and have been slow to react,” insists this Physical Education teacher at a high school in Tavernes de Valldigna (València), whose family has only suffered material damage. “Fortunately, We have not lost anyone, although we are very hurt and worried about the situation of our neighbors. “There are long days of mourning left.”
Magda complains about the lack of foresight, but also about the subsequent lack of coordination and the “inefficiency” of public services that in her opinion have not lived up to the circumstances. “It is not normal that civil society has organized itself better without resources than the Army, the Police, the firefighters…”, laments this resident of Alfafar (València), whose home is located near the Ikea where hundreds of people took refuge. He appreciates the help of the volunteers, although he criticizes the lack of coordination of the authorities.
“People have a lot of desire and will, but many times they don’t know where to go or what is most needed. Help has not yet arrived and they are not the ones who should provide it, because that is why we have institutions and organizations, although they have been useless and deficient,” adds Magda, who wants to make it clear that there are countrymen who are much worse off than her, who only regrets the material damage. “We are lucky here, but one street over is the apocalypse.”
A week later, no one has collected the garbage and junk that neighbors have been taking out of their homes, he says. “It is not normal that in a supposedly developed country it takes seven days to clear the streets, empty the garages, search for the victims… It is a shame that the farmers have had to remove the stuck cars with their tractors,” he adds. Magdagrateful to the volunteers.
“Spain should have enough resources, but very valuable time has been lost,” believes this resident of Alfafar, who considers it unacceptable that “they give you the body of a relative a week later.” In the midst of a political struggle where some administrations blame others, he points to the Generalitat Valenciana: “All the measures that have been taken have been ineffective, propagandistic and without results.”
This Monday, the regional president, Carlos Mazónattributed responsibility for managing the crisis caused by DANA to the central government, blaming the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation, dependent on the Ministry of Ecological Transition, for deactivating the danger of overflow alert on three occasions last Tuesday, which According to him, it caused the Generalitat to send an alert message to citizens’ cell phones late.
He president changed strategy and went on the attackalthough the Ministry of Ecological Transition was quick to deny his argument by ensuring that the hydrographic confederations do not have the power to issue “public alerts”, since they correspond to the emergency services of the autonomous communities. The head of the Military Emergency Unit (UME), Javier Marcosalso made it clear that The deployment of troops depends on the authorization of the emergency director of the autonomous community.
“As soon as the green light came, 1,000 soldiers moved throughout the night so that at dawn that day the people of Valencia could see that we were there,” explained Javier Marcos, who acknowledged that the weather conditions prevented them from acting quickly. Currently, there are 7,800 soldiers deployed in the province of Valencia, to which should be added 5,200 Civil Guard agents and almost 4,300 national police officers.
The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóohas requested the national emergency declarationwhich would imply that control of the operation passes from the Generalitat to the Ministry of the Interior.
In the midst of a battle for the political story, residents of Paiporta (València) This Sunday they rebuked the kings, Pedro Sánchez and Carlos Mazón himself during your visit to the town. “Do not pay attention to everything that is published because there is a lot of information poisoning and there are many people interested in this so that there is chaos,” he explained. Philip VI to those present, among whom were extreme right-wing groups, who had appropriated a popular slogan on social networks with which they fueled disbelief in politics and institutions.
“Only the people save the people It is not as nice a phrase as it seems, because the affected families cannot depend on the people. Solidarity is precious, but people who suffer should not be supported by neighbors, but by administrations,” he argues. Andrea Henrywho on Friday traveled from Madrid to his town, Xirivella (València), to help his people. “We created a group of 400 volunteers and started cleaning the schools and the cultural center. Then we offered ourselves to other more affected towns, such as Paiporta, Catarroja or Picanya.”
Coordinated by the City Council, they organized a food and clothing collection at a sports center in Xirivella. “Help is coming, but the situation is so serious and chaotic that most people feel neglected and believe that they are not being helped enough,” believes Andrea, convinced that this catastrophe should serve to “make us reflect on how to manage the crisis in the future. Now add Josep Carrasco“it is the moment of the union of society, the people and the institutions: police, firefighters, civil protection…”.
DANA has already caused the death of 211 people in the province of Valencia, although the number could increase once the channels, garages and other underground spaces are inspected. Francesc Domènecha cultural manager who resides in the Valencian capital, has witnessed during these days the situation that the most affected towns are going through. “There is absolute chaos, there is no one at the wheel, it is every man for himself,” he complains.
After visiting towns like PaiportaPicanya or Benetússer, understands the reaction of some neighbors, although he warns that “extreme right groups have burst the protest from within.” According to him, “rage is understood because it is very difficult to channel it in an adequate way” in a context where, in his opinion, the neighbors have taken the place of the Administration. “It is the response of a heterogeneous and vulnerable society, because people have lost everything and have not seen a response from the institutions. They literally have nothing to hold on to.”
Although he has not been a victim of the tragedy, he feels it firsthand because it has touched him closely. A friend has been left homeless, another has lost a student. That is why he did not hesitate to collaborate with those affected. “We should all pitch in, but coordinated by professionals,” adds Francesc, who regrets the deaths and is already thinking about tomorrow. “When we leave the shockwe will realize the magnitude of the destruction, because it will be an economic ruin.”
Felix Bolaños announced this Monday that the Council of Ministers will approve this Tuesday a decree law of urgent measures so that those affected receive immediate aid. “It is time for unity,” the Minister of the Presidency made clear. Already at night, Carlos Mazón asked the Government for a first package of 31,402 million and to complete with 15,000 euros the aid of 6,000 euros that the Generalitat will grant to those affected who have been left homeless.
Beyond institutional statements, Josep Carrasco reflects on the possible lessons of a catastrophe, although it is difficult for him to find any useful and beneficial conclusion. “The only positive thing we can draw is that we have to break with the capitalism that prevails, a life in which one works to possess, because now you realize that the material was not the fundamental thing,” concludes this resident of Algemesí.” It may seem like a utopia, but it doesn’t take that much to be happy: the important thing is to be there.”
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