«Shall I send food and clothing? Medicines? “Am I going with my friends?”: what you need to know if you want to help effectively in Valencia

Both the Medical Associations of Spain (OMC) and the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (Semes) wanted to share keys and advice to act effectively.

Furthermore, it is worth remembering that the Valencian Government has enabled five WhatsApp numbers to be able to channel aid to those affected by DANA, as well as sending those entities, companies and institutions that want to help.

In addition, there is a helpline for relatives of missing persons. This is the 900365112.

Do I send food and clothing?

Receiving food, clothing and other items in disproportionate quantities, in a disorderly manner and poorly packaged, will saturate warehouses and structures from which reclassifying and distributing them will be complex. It is advisable that this type of help be upon request and properly packaged and classified to facilitate rapid distribution. Please go to designated points in your location for pickup.

Sending medications from home?

Homemade medicines are inadequate, unclassified pharmaceutical products of any kind will occupy healthcare personnel unnecessarily. The medications must be provided by pharmaceutical entities in the appropriate quantity and type. Deposit unused drugs at the usual pharmacy collection points.

We are a group of friends and we want to help, if we go will we be useful?

Non-qualifying aid is easy to obtain locally from neighboring areas. The arrival of large quantities of untrained volunteerspreparation, food, water, personal protective equipment, or means of communication It can become a burden for the area shortly after arriving. If you want to be effective with help, contact volunteer associations to organize logistics and task assignments. First, before offering help, we must evaluate what we can contribute based on our capabilities, preparedness, disaster knowledge and experience.

I am a healthcare worker, should I take my backpack and go to Valencia?

Even if you are a healthcare professional, every professional must come when their help is requested by the organization of the rescue and rehabilitation work. They must be adequately equipped and prepared to be relatively self-sufficient or at least know what is expected of them and have an assigned task and location.

Donation of funds to NGOs and associations

For its part, the WTO emphasizes the importance of prioritizing emergency tasks in the face of the avalanche of aid from DANA. “At the moment, The most recommended action is the donation of funds to NGOs and associations that already work in the area,” they explain in a statement.

Red Cross is asking for donations through its website. It has made available to donors the phone 900104971, bizum in 33512 and six euro donation SMS when sending the word HELP at 38092. Along with the emergency services, the Spanish Red Cross is also participating in the evacuation work, the care of shelters set up for those affected and the recovery of homes in the affected areas.

The Generalitat Valenciana has created a solidarity account intended to support those affected by DANA. The solidarity initiative is now operational thanks to the Department of Finance, Economy and Public Administration in collaboration with Banco Sabadell. Those interested can make their donations to the following finalist account: ES94 0081 0693 61 0002423445

From the corporation, they also “advise against” the sending of food and belongings to the Spanish Levant as long as it is “spontaneous and uncoordinated”, since These initiatives, which “arise from good will and solidarity”, can cause “overload, saturation and even the collapse of local response mechanisms”. “At this time it is essential to facilitate the transit of emergency teams,” concludes the OMC, before thanking “the solidarity and collaboration of citizens and health professionals shown at all times.”