The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, reaffirmed this Friday in LaSexta the commitment of the Army to help in the areas most affected by DANA where they already work 1,700 soldiers after 500 more arrived this morning. Some troops highlighted by Robles do not leave alone but come with “vehicles, helicopters, drones” and even “a morgue”. In addition, he announced the sending of “250 additional soldiers”, which will make them almost 2,000 mobilized in Valencia.
The minister underlined the importance of moving these personnel on site “with very specific capacities” such as “machines for removing mud and obstacles”. Necessary elements so that later “the UME can carry out body recovery work”. In fact, he assures that this unit was there, but that it did not reach all the locations, because “it was only authorized to operate in an area of Utiel and Requena.”
From now on, he ensures that the Army will be “in all places”after the “frustration” that “not being able to work” meant for many troops. Additionally, he says everyone is “eager to work and help right now,” even as “many of those who were off duty” have asked to join the work: “They are available and they will come and will continue to go instead whatever is necessary.
Regarding the delay in arrival, Robles, with a tone of reproach, criticized the fact that “yesterday [en referencia a este jueves] Mazón already knew it was essential”. “From the first moment, the army waited to be called,” so “it never failed.” The military “want and must be alongside their people (…) They are the first to worry about why a wider deployment has not been authorized.”
“It is not a problem of numbers but of capacities,” insisted the minister, explaining that “You have to get there and it’s not that simple”nor “perform certain tasks”. “There are people missing under the rubble”, so “we must also respect the deceased” in these tasks.
At the same time, he emphasized that the reinforcement was also carried out with great care. “presence [del Ejército] at the coordination center. Among other tasks, Robles explains that the army will also participate in “the distribution of food or supplies of bottled water.”
