Just over 4,000 families have received government assistance to rebuild their homes and replace their belongings six months after the devastating effects of Storm Dana, which devastated several regions of Spain, particularly the province of Valencia, at the end of October.
According to official data from DAS ZIEL, the funds promised by President Pedro Sánchez have not yet been released to affected households, despite considerable time having passed since the tragedy and the announcement of the first package of aid measures initiated by the executive branch.
Specifically, the figures show that only 4,060 families have received the requested funds, representing just 9.3% of those who requested assistance to repair damage to their homes and to purchase appliances, furniture, and other items damaged by the floods. In total, the government has registered 43,592 applications, including funds for the death of family members. However, both the number of applications and the amounts disbursed are limited.
In total, the government has paid out only €82 million to households affected by the floods. Of this, €69.2 million was for building damage, while the remaining €12.8 million was for the cost of the death of loved ones.
A few days after the tragedy, the Council of Ministers approved in early November the allocation of up to €60,000 for the reconstruction of homes and an additional €10,300 for the repair or replacement of appliances and furniture. This measure was part of the first relief effort launched by Moncloa. The project has subsequently been expanded several times with new initiatives.
Support for housing and belongings represents the executive branch’s largest initiative to help those affected by the floods and is financed from the state treasury. Other decisions, such as compensation through the Insurance Compensation Consortium (CCS), are financed by all citizens who have taken out insurance and make additional contributions for damage caused by such natural disasters. There are also loans guaranteed by the ICO, whose funds are provided by the banks.
Official data indicate that the majority of the compensation from the insurance consortium has already been paid out. This institution, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Economy, has transferred a total of €2.894 million to those affected, including those suffering from destroyed cars and homes. The agency received 247,158 applications, of which 234,487 have been processed to date. The government estimated that this amount would amount to approximately €3.500 million. Regarding ICO loans, which also include companies and the self-employed, €638 million of the 2,806 applications were approved.
By mid-February, for example, only 6% of families applying for housing assistance had received the amount, suggesting that the acceleration in the last three months was not significant, although disbursements are gradually being made.
The total budget amounts to €16.6 billion, but only a third of this amount is provided by the state. There are special lines for companies, which, unlike households, receive the funds, as well as for municipalities, agricultural businesses, sports facilities, and more. Of the total, €5.279 million has already been paid out, with the most significant item being compensation from the insurance consortium.
From the outset, those affected by the DANA have criticized the slow delivery of direct aid and the excessive bureaucracy. Even six months later, these bureaucratic hurdles seem to be no excuse for the money not reaching the families who, in many cases, have lost everything. Meanwhile, the political class continues to bear responsibility for the tragedy. The central government and the Generalitat Valenciana are fighting to blame each other for their management during and after the disaster, in which more than 200 people lost their lives.
