Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
Save the Children, a Spanish charity, says that 70,000 young people are still living in poor housing nearly six months after the October floods.
The organisation also has warned many children cannot attend school ‘normally’ and fears the impact on their mental health and susceptibility to violence.
Rodrigo Hernandez, the organization’s chief of emergency response, said, “The flood destroyed over 75,000 homes on ground zero. Many families with children and teens still live today in substandard apartments.”
READ MORE
Hernandez added that living with unsanitary conditions, serious construction defects or overcrowding can affect health, safety and wellbeing.
He said that the impact on children and adolescents was particularly significant.
The charity highlighted Eduvmary from Paiporta, a resident who has two children aged 10 years and 10 months.
She said the mould in her apartment ‘has destroyed everything’ resulting in her children contracting diseases.
Clothing and other items had to be thrown out
Rodrigo Hernandez said, “It’s essential to increase the amount of aid and consolidate it for the renovation and rehabiliation of homes affected by DANA.”
He noted that most of the vulnerable families are living in rented accommodations, many of which do not have a lease. Therefore, he said that there were measures needed to assist them.
Save the Children states that the mental health of children has been affected by the tragedy.
According to the report, six months after its release, children are still afraid of extreme weather or rain, and adolescents are experiencing anger, rage, or sleep issues, which can lead to depression.
Eduvmary: “Everytime it rains, my oldest son is afraid, and he always asks me whether I will pick him up from the school.”
She added, “I try to reassure her by telling him to go to the top of the building, and not come back home. He should wait calmly there, and help his friends, if it happens again.”
In the weeks following October 29, approximately 40,000 minors in the most severely affected areas of the country were not able to attend school because of the damage caused by the flooding.
According to the charity, many of the core issues are simply not taught and there is still a significant number of youngsters who do no receive regular tuition.
Rodrigo Hernandez stated: “Now that we are nearing the end of school year, it’s important to plan long-term and medium-term support and reinforcement programmes so that what was not taught is caught up.”
“Repeating an entire school year is socially unfair,” he said.
Save the Children launched seven child-friendly and safe spaces in different municipalities to address the problem of increased violence against children.
In a safe, supportive environment, a team of professionals including teachers, social workers and psychologists offer emotional, educational and physical support to children.
The centre also offers sports, creative play and sport activities.
