The pandemic, vulnerability, and severe economic hardships have driven around a hundred individuals to seek shelter in the Hermano Pedro y de los Balos ravine, near the centre of El Médano, Granadilla de Abona. Living in caves, in makeshift communities, these settlements have put pressure on the Granadilla City Council. While the residents of the Hermano Pedro ravine community have managed to organize themselves and live harmoniously, the atmosphere in Los Balos is less stable, with recent arrivals from La Mareta and El Charco del Clérigo still trying to find their place.
DIARIO DE AVISOS visited these locations where a resident of the Balos ravine, near the Hermano Pedro community, shared his story. After losing his job and struggling to pay rent, he was eventually forced out of his home in La Laguna. The dire circumstances led him to El Médano, seeking a better climate. He narrated the challenges faced sleeping on the streets, eventually finding refuge in the Balos ravine after his previous dwelling was destroyed in a conflict. Desperate for shelter, he now seeks a cave to call home.
The resident also expressed frustration at being denied government assistance after missing several appointments. Despite selling his phone to seek help, his case was closed when he approached the authorities. The intervention of the Granadilla City Council provided him with a social worker, although he remains critical of the system’s inefficiencies. Fearful of jeopardizing his ongoing support, he chooses to remain anonymous.
“A Constant Cycle of Displacement”
Following an evacuation by the city council, Civil Guard, and Provincial Coastal Service on March 22, individuals from settlements in La Mareta and Charco del Clérigo found refuge near the Hermano Pedro ravine. A resident mentioned that those displaced from Los Abrigos ended up settling in the ravine, highlighting the harsh reality of a constant cycle of displacement. The majority of affected individuals come from Eastern and Northern Europe, seeking warmth in this region, alongside Canaries facing similar predicaments.
Many in these settlements have been abandoned by institutions, friends, and neighbours, leaving them with no choice but to seek shelter on the streets or in ravines. For some, like those in Hermano Pedro and Los Balos, these locations have become home. However, the looming threat of eviction looms over them, with the council in talks with relevant authorities to initiate the process.
City councilor for Security, Carmen Rodríguez, confirmed that the eviction date has not been set yet, with coordination required with the Insular Water Council responsible for the ravines. The residents will be informed in due time of the impending eviction.
