ADRA Spain and its Volunteers Open a Logistics Point in Paiporta and Collaborate in Cleaning Tasks in Municipalities Affected by Torrential Rains in Valencia
ADRA SPAIN
The torrential rains and DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels) that ravaged entire municipalities on October 29, mainly in the Valencian Community, have caused extensive damage in areas where the presence of the Adventist Church and ADRA Spain and its volunteers has been deeply rooted for decades.
Valencia is one of the Spanish autonomous communities with the largest number of Adventist members, where the headquarters of the Sagunto Adventist College is located, and a community where ADRA has an important volunteer body that has seen, for the first time, how the crisis caused by this climate and humanitarian emergency has reached their own doorstep.
This situation has enabled ADRA Spain and its volunteers to work at ground zero of the disaster since the day following the torrential floods. Currently, ADRA Spain has organized and manages one of the main logistics and supply points in Paiporta, one of the hardest-hit municipalities, distributing food, drinking water, and other essential items.
This weekend, on November 1 and 2, more than 30 volunteers worked in shifts to receive and distribute supplies and other donations among the affected population. They also delivered essential items to those affected who, due to mobility issues, could not reach the ADRA logistics point in Paiporta in person. Here in Paiporta, ADRA is supported by donations received from across Spain and collaboration with other NGOs like the Red Cross.
Paiporta has been one of the most severely affected areas by the 2024 DANA, becoming what has been termed the “ground zero” of this catastrophe. Many streets are impassable due to the floods, and numerous fatalities have been reported, though exact figures are still unconfirmed as the search for missing and deceased persons continues.
In addition to the distribution point in Paiporta, ADRA is also involved in cleaning efforts underway in the town of Aldaia. There, another 70 volunteers from the ADRA Camp de Morvedre delegation are working in shifts to clear main communication routes, clean, and remove mud from streets, homes, and nursing homes. It is estimated that recovery efforts will take weeks or months.
These torrential rains that have affected Valencia and other regions of Spain have been one of the most devastating natural disasters in the country’s recent history. As of November 5, the death toll stands at 215, with over 1,900 people missing. The heavy rains began on the afternoon of October 29, with some areas recording near 500 millimeters per square meter, leading to river and ravine overflows and flash floods.
“Our response capability has been very quick due to having volunteers in the affected area,” explains Olga Calonge, director of ADRA Spain. “Within 24 hours of the emergency, as soon as the magnitude of the crisis was clear, we had volunteers mobilized living in Valencia and in the areas of Paiporta and Aldaia. We are considering the possibility of creating another logistics support point in the town of Catarroja and are in discussions with the City Council to activate this point in coordination with them as soon as possible.”
With your donation for ADRA Spain you can support the current relief efforts:
BIZUM 01379, ES36-0049-0469-1428-1070-2011 B. Santander.
ADRA Spain is channeling all donations and volunteer support for this effort through Pastor Maicer Romero. ADRA Spain’s response will be more effective and efficient if those wishing to collaborate and assist in this crisis do so in coordination with ADRA Spain and Pastor Romero.
Revista Adventista Espana reports: (3 November 2024)
Pastor Maicer Romero, responsible for managing aid in the Valencia area, requests that NO VOLUNTEERS come from outside for the time being. Any action must first be coordinated with him for logistical reasons. Until Sunday, access to Valencia is restricted by the City Council. From that day onward, aid groups from outside may be organized but should always be coordinated and orderly. Volunteers planning to come starting Monday must bring their own tools and manage their own accommodation, food, and expenses. Donated funds are exclusively for supporting flood victims.
Deployment of Volunteers and Current Situation
In response to the recent floods that have devastated areas within the Valencia metropolitan area, a large volunteer team from Adventist churches in the region has been mobilized in collaboration with ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency). According to Pastor Maicer Romero, local volunteers are currently addressing urgent needs in the hardest-hit areas, such as Paiporta, Alfafar, Sedaví, Aldaya, Catarroja, and Albal, with an operations center at the Adventist church on Vives Street in Valencia city.
As of today, there are already 158 confirmed dead, most of them in the Valencian Community, with an undetermined number of people still missing. Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced this Friday that 500 additional military personnel—300 from the Army, 100 from the Air Force, and 100 from the Navy—are now deployed in the Valencian Community, with reinforcements arriving tomorrow “as needed, with no limit to available resources.”
The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has updated its forecast, maintaining a heavy rain alert for five regions: Andalusia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, and Extremadura.
An emergency line (900 365 112) has been established to support families and assist with missing person searches. In emergencies, citizens are urged to contact 112.
Aid Management in Valencia
As previously requested by Pastor Óscar López, president of the UAE, Pastor Romero also asks that, for now, NO OUTSIDE VOLUNTEERS COME, as what may seem helpful could become a logistical challenge. There are sufficient volunteers in the area, and what is truly needed is financial support through ADRA Spain.
ADRA’s donation account:
- Santander: ES3600490469142810702011
- Bizum: 01379
- Purpose: Valencia
From Sunday onward, volunteers from outside the region may be allowed if the situation permits and additional help is required. Until then, it is advised not to travel to the affected areas to ensure effective resource management and avoid logistical burdens, as there is no extra accommodation yet available for external volunteers.
At present, dozens of local volunteers are actively engaged in relief efforts. ADRA and Adventist churches request that those interested in collaborating wait for an official call before joining efforts in Valencia.
Streamlined Collaboration with ADRA and Volunteer WhatsApp Group
ADRA, using donations received, is playing a vital role in equipping field teams with essential supplies. According to Pastor Romero: “There is an inter-church task force, and we communicate decisions to ADRA, which then authorizes us to appeal for help. The response has been very agile.”
ADRA volunteers and Adventist churches are coordinated by Pastor Romero through a public communication group, where calls for help and intervention teams are organized.
Ground Support and Challenges
Volunteers are distributing food, water, medicine, and other essential items to families affected by the floods. Many have lost everything, including vehicles critical for their jobs. Beyond providing supplies, volunteers are assisting with clean-up in affected homes, removing damaged furniture and mud left by the floodwaters.
The primary challenge remains meeting basic needs of affected families and ensuring effective communication to organize assistance in the most heavily damaged areas.
How to Help?
ADRA and the Adventist church invite those interested in volunteering to reach out through ADRA’s official channels for potential future participation.
Contact Information:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 911 964 949
- Madrid Office – 91 196 53 23
- Zaragoza Office – 976 59 14 91
Unprecedented Natural Disaster
The Valencia region and other Spanish communities face an unprecedented emergency due to intense rain and flooding from the high-level isolated depression (DANA). So far, heavy rains have claimed 158 lives, primarily in the Valencian Community, with numerous people reported missing. The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has updated the forecast, keeping the alert for heavy rains active in five communities: Andalusia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, and Extremadura. The situation in Andalusia is of particular concern, with red alerts in Huelva for possible rainfall exceeding 140 liters per square meter.
Heightened Alert Across Spain
The storm continues to impact large portions of Spain. An orange alert has been issued in the Valencian Community, with heavy rains forecasted, potentially causing up to 52 liters per square meter within an hour on the southern coast of Valencia. Castellón is also on alert, with anticipated rainfall reaching up to 100 liters over 12 hours. Red alerts are active in Catalonia due to high flood risks.
Call for Responsible Purchasing
In light of the crisis, supermarket chains Mercadona and Consum urge citizens to avoid excessive stockpiling of food and essentials, emphasizing that supplies are stable and encouraging responsible purchasing.
Exercise Caution
This storm is the worst meteorological disaster Spain has seen in the 21st century, with conditions still volatile. AEMET warns that the DANA has yet to dissipate, and the weather emergency may continue, affecting several communities with increased intensity.
The original article was published here: Volunteer Teams Respond to Emergency in Valencia – Adventist Journal of Spain
Author: Esther Azón, theologian and communicator. Editor and co-editor of revista.adventista.es
Pictures: shared by Olga Calonge, ADRA Spain
