Pedro Sánchez announces a second aid package of 206.9 million euros for La Palma

La Palma (Canary Islands)

The aid, which is part of the Special Plan for the Reconstruction of La Palma, will be used to guarantee housing, businesses, plantations and infrastructure, as well as to alleviate the island's water supply problem and to tack action on employment, agriculture and tourism. This new package of measures will be approved by Decree Law at next Tuesday's Council of Ministers.

"Next Tuesday, the Council of Ministers is going to approve a very powerful package of measures for the reconstruction of infrastructure, water supply, employment, agriculture, tourism, tax benefits, etc. of more than 206 million euros," announced Sánchez.

The president expressed the solidarity and closeness of the Government, the administrations and all citizens to the inhabitants of La Palma and stressed both the value of the unity of action between the different administrations and the strength of the state in the response to the emergency and reconstruction.

"We are facing an endurance test because we don't know when the eruption of the volcano will end, but the people of La Palma should know that the Government and all administrations will tackle the enormous task of rebuilding La Palma and offering a horizon of progress and peace of mind", he said.

Visiting evacuees

Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la BellacasaDuring Sunday's visit, the President met with the Steering Committee of the Special Civil Protection and Emergency Plan for Volcanic Risk (PEVOLCA), where he was informed of the evolution of the volcanic emergency on the island, which has already affected 400 hectares, with special mention of the complications arising from the eruption in terms of water supply and irrigation.

Sánchez then went to visit the more than 200 evacuees staying at the Princess Hotel, which has lent its facilities as a temporary shelter for those affected.

Special Plan for La Palma

The Special Plan for the Reconstruction of La Palma is a Government initiative for collaboration between administrations to combat the consequences of the volcanic emergency on the island, which is implemented through a Joint Committee with the presence of all the administrations involved: The Government of Spain, Government of the Canary Islands, La Palma City Hall and the affected municipalities of El Paso, Tazacorte and Los Llanos de Aridane.

The Plan has two phases: a first phase of rapid action to mitigate the most pressing consequences of the emergency, even though the volcano is still active, and a second phase focused on reconstruction to be implemented once the eruption has ceased, with urban planning, mobility, agriculture, housing, energy and tourism measures.

The 206.9 million euro aid package is in addition to the 10.5 million euros approved last week for the recovery of homes and basic necessities, together with the special ERTE and the declaration of an area seriously affected by a civil protection emergency for the island of La Palma.

Non official translation