Philip VI assured this Thursday about DANA, which left more than 220 dead, that We must not forget the “lessons” of this tragedy and he warned that “time is running out and the climate is unforgiving”.in addition to emphasizing the need for society and institutions to act in unison.
The king, who is in the Ecuadorian city of Cuenca to participate in the XXIX Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, closed the XV Ibero-American Business Meeting with a speech that began with a thank you for the expressions of solidarity and affection that Spain has received from so many countries, especially Latin American, because of the DANA tragedy, words that were applauded by the audience.
The devastating effects of the floods caused by this “terrible and extraordinary” atmospheric depression in many regions of Spain, mainly in the Valencian Community, Castile-La Mancha and Andalusia, caused, recalled the monarch, more than 220 deaths and “…extreme, unprecedented material devastation” in Spain.
“They fill us with pain and test us”said of these effects that it is a profound blow that has disrupted the lives of thousands and thousands of people, “stretching the capacity to respond to the limit and posing an enormous challenge”. “With effort, courage and unity… with the will and the spirit of solidarity of all Spaniards and with the support of our friends, we will resume our path of progress and well-being.
We will do it with firmness, perseverance and with humility to learn and not forget the lessons of this tragedy”, guaranteed the king. Because, he added, “time is running out and the climate is merciless”, warned the king who remembered that humanity has the tools, the science, the engineering, the technology and the cooperation, and even the resources.
This is why, stressed the need to address each country’s preparedness as quickly and effectively as possible. and at the multilateral level and strengthen “the capacity for resistance and overcoming”, faced with the great diversity of serious natural risks, and not just climatic ones. And it is also necessary, he added, that institutions and society act in unison, focusing on helping victims and rebuilding affected areas, in addition to recalling the importance of working together for the common good.
Spain received support in Ecuador in the face of the devastation suffered by DANA, such as that experienced earlier today during an event at the La Gloria soccer field, where an initiative for the integration of children and young people in education. in the values through sport, developed by the Ecuadorian NGO “Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil” and promoted by the Club Atlético de Madrid, where there was a memory for the victims. And the fact is that a significant part of the 430,000 Ecuadorians who live in Spain reside in the Valencian Community, and one of them died in the floods.
