Valencia
Meeting between the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and DANA victims' associations (Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo)
The chief executive has met in Valencia with representatives of the associations of victims of the DANA, Asociació Víctimes Mortals 29-O, Asociación Damnificados por la DANA Horta Sud and Associació Víctimes per la DANA 29-O. At the meeting, the president was able to listen in first person to the voices of the victims, who told him their stories, what they are going through and their main needs after the catastrophe.
Pedro Sánchez received the associations at the headquarters of the Government Delegation, accompanied by the Minister for Science and Universities, Diana Morant, the Government Delegate, Pilar Bernabé, and the Secretary of State for Territorial Policy, Arcadi España.
The president reiterated his consistent commitment and that of the Executive to the victims, as he has done from day one, until the full reconstruction of the Valencian Community and the economic reactivation of the affected areas. The chief executive reminded them that the state has already paid €5.36 billion of the €16.6 billion committed, guaranteeing that the Government will continue to work to ensure that the aid continues to arrive as quickly as possible.
During the meeting, the President of the Government took up the request of the victims' associations to hold a State Funeral in memory of the victims of the DANA.
Pedro Sánchez also informed them that the Government is already working on a plan to prevent and prepare the territory to minimise risks in the event of flooding, which will include new actions and others already programmed, to be implemented from 2026. The plan, designed by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, will contain a package of hydraulic reforms and flood protection measures.
He also discussed with the representatives of the affected associations the need to improve emergency protocols, to ensure that, in risk situations, information is properly processed by those who have to make decisions, to improve the channels of communication and transmission of information to the public and to fight against misinformation, and to strengthen our measurement systems so that they are more resilient in the current conditions of climate change.
Last, Sánchez referred to the Commission of Inquiry into the DANA that was set up yesterday in the Lower House of Parliament with the support of the PSOE and its partners in government, explaining that the intention is for the three victims' associations to be the first to appear before the members of the commission.
Visit to the company ITV Ice Makers in Riba-roja de Túria
The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, with workers at a factory affected by the DANA | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo
Prior to the meeting with the associations, the President of the Government visited ITV Ice Makers in Riba-roja de Túria, a family-run business with 40 years of history manufacturing ice machines, which was affected by the DANA and has already received nearly €4 million from the Insurance Consortium.
The chief executive once again expressed his support for the productive fabric damaged by the floods of 29 October, recalling that the Government of Spain is the main contributor to the reconstruction of Valencia with €16.6 billion committed in aid.
More than 26,500 companies and self-employed workers have benefited from direct aid from the Tax Agency (€338 million), and 2,800 companies have benefited from ERTE, involving more than 32,000 workers, of which 3,297 are still in this temporary redundancy system. The ICO guarantee line has so far financed more than 2,827 operations with €640 million. The Insurance Compensation Consortium has processed nearly 250,000 claims, and has already paid out more than €2.9 billion.
The state is covering the costs of the affected municipalities during the first weeks of the tragedy, estimated at €1 billion. In addition, 78 municipalities have applied for aid for the reconstruction of municipal infrastructure, with almost €1.75 billion having been paid out. Some €380 million has also been mobilised to repair transport infrastructures, and emergency works have been declared on the State Road Network and municipal networks worth €157 billion.
Meeting with the owner of a bicycle workshop in Catarroja
The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, presents Pepe Vicent, whose bicycle shop was destroyed by the DANA, with a Spanish cycling team jersey | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo
The President of the Government concluded his visit to the Valencia Region with a meeting at the Government Delegation with José Vicent, owner of the Ciclos Vicent bicycle workshop destroyed by the DANA in Catarroja, which reopened to the public last week.
Pedro Sánchez has taken a particular interest in his situation, using the opportunity of his visit to give him a Spanish national cycling team shirt.
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