SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Jan. 26 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Red Cross has distributed 9,245 economic and in-kind aid worth 1.4 million euros to families affected by the La Palma volcano eruption, which are part of the funds raised by the Institution during the emergency thanks to the solidarity of all society and donations in kind from companies.
Of this total aid distributed, 5,110 are economic deliveries, such as money cards, so that the affected people can purchase products according to their specific needs (2,193); purchase cards intended for consumption in the different supermarkets on the island (1,626); school material vouchers (20); gasoline cards (386), and housing rental aid (885).
The Red Cross, through the ‘Sponsor an Illusion’ campaign, also delivered 235 new, non-sexist and non-war toys to minors affected by the volcanic eruption on the island of La Palma last Christmas. In addition, 336 toy store cards and purchase vouchers for gifts such as clothing, electronic materials and toys, among others, were also distributed.
Likewise, the Organization allocated 1,500 Christmas baskets or lots for all the affected families. In these boxes you could find typical products of these festivities such as nougat, shortbread and chocolates, among others. These baskets were accompanied by greeting cards made by boys and girls from different schools on the island of Tenerife, who wanted to send a message of support to La Palma with this small detail.
The elderly people who have been affected by this emergency have also received 200 special kits, containing chocolates, a blanket, a batch of moisturizing creams and a stuffed animal.
DIRECT CARE TO THE POPULATION
On the other hand, the different Immediate Emergency Response Teams (ERIE) of the Red Cross, displaced in La Palma since the beginning of the eruption, continue to carry out their activities to support the population of the Aridane Valley. It is worth mentioning the cleaning and ash extraction work that the Search and Rescue Team in the Terrestrial Environment continues to carry out in the areas closest to the volcanic cone, such as San Nicolás, Jedey or Las Manchas de Abajo.
Similarly, the Red Cross continues to provide emotional support and psychological care to people affected by the eruption, in person and by telephone, through the ‘Red Cross Listens to You’ system. Previously, this service was offered through a fixed line (900), but now, with the move to mobile, it also supports WhatsApp messaging through the telephone number 661 620 926.
The Red Cross has also dedicated a specific space for the care of the youngest affected by the eruption. On the one hand, it has made the ‘Promotion of School Success’ program available to minors, an initiative that seeks reinforcement and support in their studies. Likewise, the Organization has started the ‘Free Smiles’ project, a space for entertainment and enjoyment of cultural and leisure activities for children and young people between 6 and 30 years of age.
Since last September 30, the Organization has already carried out 11,707 interventions at the social level, which corresponds to 4,459 different family units.
Likewise, 4,135 packages of essential products have been distributed, such as a food kit (204), family hygiene kit (728), feminine personal hygiene (848), masculine (779) and baby (76), kit of household cleaning (1,253), ash cleaning kit (240), animal feed and clothing, among others.
MORE THAN 2 MILLION INVESTED.
On the other hand, the Organization has distributed, both among those intervening in the emergency and among the general population, different protection materials against the gases and ash coming from the volcano, such as glasses (15,922), covers for them (200 ) and masks (197.674).
In total, since September 19, the Institution has invested some 2.2 million euros in the entire operation, both in its action with its emergency teams, and in social support for the population affected by the volcano, or in the provision of various services.
The Red Cross continues to work on various short, medium and long-term projects in order to support and assist the people affected by the eruption that occurred in La Palma, and thus contribute to their recovery in the coming months, putting special attention to children, the elderly and families who have suffered the total loss of their homes and means of subsistence.
Among the priorities of the Red Cross are guaranteeing the food security and health of the population (both those installed in temporary accommodation resources, and those relocated with family or friends), psychosocial support, access to social rights, the return and rehabilitation of homes, employment support, school support and leisure activities for boys and girls on La Palma, as well as coverage of educational needs and school or technological material, among others.
The Organization has enabled several channels for people who wish to collaborate with this humanitarian operation through BIZUM (code 03165) or bank transfer (ES90 2100 6617 8222 0097 4717).
