A wave of solidarity has filled the capital with volunteers. The collection points to help the victims of the Levantine catastrophe have multiplied in the last 48 hours. Private companies, neighborhood associations and municipalities throughout the Community of Madrid have set up places where thousands of people have come with donations. However, much remains to be done for the Valencian people to get back on their feet.
Despite the fact that the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has recommended avoiding travel from Madrid to Valencia by road, young people from all over the city are mobilizing to enter the areas of the Valencian Community most affected by the DANA.
Days after the tragedy, organizations such as the Plataforma de Voluntariat de la Comunidad Valenciana put at the disposal of the people of Madrid a series of official volunteering programs.
Official volunteers
For health workers
The Conselleria de Sanidad de Valencia has made available a form for healthcare personnel who want to help in health centers and hospitals in areas affected by the DANA. At the moment there is availability to help from Thursday 5 to Sunday 10 November.
For restorers
The Spanish Conservation Group has created an initiative to cover emergency assistance needs related to Valencia’s cultural heritage. Professionals in this field can sign up to volunteer through the following form.
For anyone who wants to collaborate
With the collaboration of social organizations such as Caritas and the Red Cross, the Plataforma de Voluntariat de la Comunidad Valenciana (PVCV) has activated services of displacement of volunteers to areas affected by the DANA. These mobilizations, which begin on Wednesday, November 6, have groups of professional coordinators who indicate the needs to be covered in each area.
The trips will be from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm and will depart from the Príncipe Felipe Museum of Arts and Sciences in Valencia. The PVCV estimates that these services will be extended during weekends, increasing the number of buses by 50 to 100.
To participate in PVCV volunteering, the following form provided by the Generalitat must be filled in. Once completed, the volunteer will have access to a QR code that is absolutely necessary to enter the buses.
How to get to Valencia from Madrid?
Currently Valencia can be reached by car, bus or plane. The best way to enter the Valencian capital is through the Madrid-Valencia bus line offered by Avanza, a company that has just confirmed the resumption of its service in Levante. The trip takes between 4 and 5 hours and the ticket price is around 35 €.
Recommendations for volunteers
The working environments faced by volunteers can be dangerous if proper hygienic measures are not taken. It should be taken into account that the sewage that invades the Valencian Community may contain toxic products, so it is essential to obtain the following equipment:
- Thick-soled, high-top,waterproof boots.
- Chemical resistant work gloves.
- Resistant clothing: long pants and shirts, reflective vest and eye protection goggles.
- Masks to avoid inhaling particles in places with dust or residues.
- Wound care kit with at least a pair of scissors, disinfectant, adhesive tape and gauze.
During volunteering it is important to move with caution, since in flooded areas, sewers and holes in the ground are not visible. Extreme caution is recommended in areas where there are gas or electricity systems, which can cause serious accidents. Of course, thistype of activity is not suitable for pregnant women or people with serious respiratory problems in any case.