ISLANDERS are being urged to donate to humanitarian efforts in Spain following devastating floods that have been described as “horrific” by the Spanish honorary consul in Jersey.
And a Spanish restaurant in the Central Market will be donating 10% of its takings from lunch and dinner sittings this Friday and Saturday to the Spanish Red Cross (Cruz Roja).
Casa Paco yesterday announced that it was raising the funds to support those working “tirelessly” as part of relief efforts, following severe flooding that has claimed the lives of over 200 people and caused devastation in Valencia.
Aida de la Herrán, honorary consul of Spain in the Channel Islands, said: “My deepest condolences go to the families and friends of everyone affected by these horrific events.
“It is hard to even imagine how they must feel, let alone how they can get out of bed each morning and get on with things.
“A great number of people affected have lost everything, but nothing can be worse than losing loved ones.”
She described the community response to the disaster as “humbling”.
“Civilians from across the country immediately went to volunteer to help clean up in the most precarious conditions, with brooms and scoops at the beginning, now with shovels and pumps, diggers and tractors.
“Military, firemen, police and Guardia Civil are onsite doing all they can. Cities around the country are sending tons of clothing, footwear, food and water, tools and pumps to empty the garages.
“We come together to help each other out in any way we can,” she added, noting that Islanders could donate to the relief effort through JustGiving: justgiving.com/campaign/spain-flood-relief-fund.
Rubén Pérez, who is from Valencia and currently lives in London, was in Jersey when the disaster struck.
He said that watching footage of the flooding had been “very distressing”.
“There is a video which resonates in my head, of a lady in a pharmacy. You can see the water is rising and she is leaving [someone] an audio message to say ‘please look after my kid’.”
He also praised the community response, which has seen volunteers doing everything from clearing mud to helping look for survivors and donating food and water.
“I have a chat with schoolfriends and they were saying, any hand is needed here, so whoever can make it please come.”
