How did it take so long to call the army? How is it possible that after the images that were seen of one of the worst DANAS, of one of the worst floods in memory, there is only 2,500 soldiers in the Valencian Community? These are questions that many ask themselves. Let those who are concerned become concerned, and also those who are not. Questions you have a clear answer and that leaves even more questions to ponder.
Because it’s difficult to understand. Because everything seems to arrive late. From sending an alert to citizens to warn them of the danger they face due to rains to sending soldiers to help them with relevant tasks. Because, as Antonio García Ferreras says, they are the ones who have the necessary means.
“The army is ready. It is prepared. It has the will. They have the logistical capacity to move. It’s not easy to move 5,000 people, but it’s possible. There are currently 2,500 and there are no more because Mazón didn’t ask for them before. Why not before. They allowed him to go out first to ask for these 5,000 additional men and women,” Ferreras said.
“We saw an incapable and ineffective Mazón”
And all eyes are on the president of the Generalitat. A president, a Mazón, whom Ferreras sees like this: “He put on the emergency vest, but we saw an ineffective and incapable Mazón. He has shown incompetence, and not just with the military. The Generalitat rejected the presence of forensic experts from the central government “You have seen that the death toll is crucial.”
So why wasn’t the army called in sooner? The answer given by Ferreras is clear: “If Mazón does not request it, the soldiers cannot be sent there. He is the one who is responsible for the place. “It is he who should have, from the first day, asked for thousands of men.”
After this, a new question arises: why did the government not put pressure on Mazón and why he did not assume command through the state of alarm. “They did not do it to avoid an institutional shock,” Ferreras explains in laSexta.
“Mazón asked for 500 soldiers; a few hours later, he asked for 5,000”
“Mazón requested the presence of 500 soldiers. A few hours later he appears and asks for 5,000. He is the main person responsible. The government saw difficulties because he is the one in front. In 48 hours, there were only 2,500 soldiers left. Why did it take so long, since he didn’t ask for them. He is the most responsible and continues to be so. The government is betting by the application of the State of Alarm”, concludes Ferreras in his speech.
Eyes are therefore turned towards the president of the Generalitat Valenciana. Al, as Ferreras says, “the most responsible” premises and who, 48 hours after the disaster, belatedly requested help and the presence of the military from the Government. Until he asked, he couldn’t be sent to the army.
The mayor of Alfafar’s call for help: “No one is coming”
Juan Ramón Adsuara, mayor of Alfafar, explained on Thursday in Más Vale Tarde that there were two neighborhoods in his city that they still cannot access, confirming that there have been deaths, and asked for help from institutions to access this area. “No one is coming, we need help please,” he said.
“It’s a question of people, here we are 10,000 families. All the volunteer neighbors and the six or seven local police officers we have are trying to evacuate the injured. We have nothing else. No water , no electricity and very little coverage,” lamented Adsuara.
Chiva residents feel abandoned
For their part, the citizens and the Chiva Town Hall feel completely abandoned after the passage of DANA by the municipality. Faced with a lack of resources, the neighbors themselves began to clean up the mess as best they could, with brooms, shovels and buckets, and with the help of young people from other towns. “Please help us, I’ve never seen myself like this”“, asked a woman in LaSexta, completely desperate in the face of the destruction caused by the deadliest cold fall in the history of Spain. “There are many volunteers, but the means at our disposal do not allow them to work”, they insist from the municipality. And help arrives little by little, very little by little.
Furthermore, Jonathan, a resident of Paiporta, denounced the lack of help in front of the microphones of LaSexta. “It’s embarrassing. They abandoned us. Nobody comes here; People from outside Valencia must come and bring us water and food,” he said, after which he asked: “Where is the army?”
In Aidara, the situation is similar. Residents of one of the Valencian municipalities most affected by DANA are overwhelmed by the solidarity received with the help of thousands of volunteers but also frustrated by what they consider to be abandonment by the authorities.
“Where are the soldiers? » asks Javier, an angry resident of the town of 32,000 inhabitants, who has been cleaning mud from the streets for hours and who also complains about the town’s lack of visibility in the media.
The soldiers, welcomed with applause
And there was a great desire to see the armed forces reach the areas most affected by DANA. Upon arrival in several of these cities, citizens They received them with applause after a storm which has so far killed more than 200 people.
Which also causes multiple looting taking advantage of the terrible circumstances. They do not steal basic necessities, but video game consoles and jewelry valued at more than 30,000 euros. Since DANA’s passage, more than 80 people have been arrested for looting in Valencia.
