Armando G. Tejeda

Correspondent

La Jornada Newspaper
Saturday, November 30, 2024, p. 19

Madrid. One month after an isolated atmospheric depression (DANA) or cold drop caused a monumental flood that devastated streets, houses and all types of infrastructure and left 230 dead, four missing and tens of thousands affected in Valencia, a series of silent rallies were held in which candles were lit to remember the dead and he sang again the cry of aid in the reconstruction tasks and in the return to normal.

The torrential rains, which overflowed dams and ravines, caused many towns, where it had not even rained, to suffer the ravages of a gigantic flood that left destruction and death in its wake. DANA mainly affected the Valencian Community, Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha.

In Valencia, 70 municipalities suffered the onslaught of the waters, and in towns such as Paiporta, Chiva, Aldaia, Pincanya, Sedaví, Benetússer and Alfafar, practically all businesses, schools and the main access roads were destroyed. A month later the situation is still critical: the commercial fabric is paralyzed, children are not seen on the streets, since the majority were transferred to other places to continue their schooling. Desperation and boredom begin to take their toll on the population.

Juan, a worker at the Paiporta town hall, says: There are basements that are still full of mud after a month, with the health risk that this entails. The dirt, the mud and the mud have been removed, but we don’t have a park or a sports center or schools. And we feel that the help begins to disappear. Another neighbor, José Murat, a 70-year-old retiree, insisted that a lot of help is needed. Furthermore, psychologically we are very affected. Physically, very tired, and if it were not for private companies, for volunteering we would be even worse. Public administrations, zero.

The majority of those affected demand more speed from their mayors, but also from the regional president, the right-wing Carlos Mazón, who was demanded to resign in the massive demonstration of 130 thousand people on the 9th of this month; They also point out the central government, chaired by the socialist Pedro Sánchez, for the slowness of the Army’s response, the lack of help in the following days and because the supposed aid they have approved is not reaching those affected.

This perception contrasts with official data, according to which 20,000 professional troops are still deployed in the damaged areas, where work is focused on removing mud from garages and removing the 120,000 destroyed vehicles. In addition, there are 17 million euros supposedly available for those affected.

We are very tired because this is not moving forwardsummarized Carlos, a resident of Aldaia who implored: Please don’t leave us alone!.