From our partner Irene Tarragó
I am writing this article a week after the terrible DANA that has devastated several towns in the Valencian Community, Castilla La Mancha and Andalusia.
My feelings on seeing the magnitude of the disaster cannot but be with all the families who have lost everything, some even relatives or friends. There are already 217 dead, as of today, but we still do not know how many are missing. The worst thing about these figures is that behind them there are people, truncated lives, broken dreams.
The testimonies we have seen on television from people who tell us what they have experienced are so heartbreaking that I cannot hold back my tears and I feel helpless not to be able to do more for them. What consoles me is the response of so many people, especially young people, who did not think twice and came to lend a hand with shovels, buckets, bringing clothes, water… long before any official help.
Just thinking about having gone through this makes me thankful for being here. Those of us who are privileged and have not experienced it have the obligation to help, to the extent of our possibilities, whether by going there, with donations of all kinds, or by praying for those who have faith. Anything but staying passive. I only ask those who have the tools, vehicles, training, power… to come to an agreement, to row together, to put aside their ideological disputes, that this is not about politics, it is about helping people, about being empathetic and, once they agree on the aid measures that are going to be given, that they do not forget, that they comply. There are still people in Lorca waiting for aid and in La Palma living in barracks.
Civil society is giving a lesson in civic spirit, solidarity, love, empathy that is worthy of admiration. And, even though they are supportive and have been in the thick of it from the beginning, even saving lives with rudimentary means, we see how even with that they feel powerless because with what they have they cannot do more.
I hope that this disaster is not forgotten. That measures are taken so that it does not happen again. Just as in 1957 the course of the Turia was diverted so that it would not flood the city of Valencia, since there had already been several overflows, that research is carried out and what is necessary is done so that all that water that has ended up in the towns destroying them can be diverted to other places. I do not know how it can be done, but I am sure that there are engineers who know and if not, they should ask AI for help.
Today I am not talking about epilepsy, I know. And that is because we are in November, epilepsy awareness month, but I do not have the body for it. I am worried, however, about the people with epilepsy who are there and do not have access to their medication. Distribution points for medicines are being set up, but not all of them are available yet.
A sincere hug to all the people who have been left with nothing and to all the families who have lost one of their loved ones. My heart goes out to them.
Irene Tarragó Pascau
