VALVERDE (EL HIERRO), Oct. 4 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The technical director of the Red Cross in El Hierro, Alexis Ramos, admitted this Wednesday that the arrival of up to four migrant boats with more than 500 people on the island has been “hard” and there have been “moments of trouble” and ” a lot of work”.
In statements to Europa Press, he acknowledges that the organization has “muscle” and “experience” after the first ‘cayucos crisis’, with a well-oiled structure of staff and volunteers and its problem now lies in logistical capacity.
“We have a warehouse with capacity for about 1,000 people, but yesterday there were 509, and since the second half of September 1,010, we have used up almost all the clothing so we are considering reaching 2,000 people, it is not enough,” he points out.
In fact, he points out that this very night they expect a truck to arrive from Tenereirfe with more material to attend to this migratory surge.
Ramos details that the Red Cross participates in the triage work with the SCS at the foot of the dock and then the humanitarian part begins where “the most urgent thing” is changing clothes since the migrants come “soaked” and with clothes mixed with hydrocarbons . “The change is immediate,” he says.
Later they help with transfers to the reception center on the island, also with those who go to Tenerife and with basic tasks such as hygiene or food deliveries since in El Hierro there is no catering service and the menus are distributed through of the collaboration of bars and restaurants.
Although the migrants arrive in apparently good health despite the harshness of a trip of between seven and nine days – normally leaving from Senegal or Gambia – Ramos points out that this Tuesday there were four transfers to the hospital and many people affected with mild pathologies, especially sores and trauma that imply mobility difficulties.
So far this year, and only to the island of El Hierro, a total of 3,329 people have arrived aboard 40 boats.
