Mazón Returns Home Nearly a Month After the DANA

The President of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, has returned to the province of Alicante nearly a month after the devastating DANA that ravaged the province of Valencia, leaving at least 220 dead and causing enormous destruction. He returned following considerable pressure to resign, including a massive demonstration, and a reform of the Consell that has just concluded. Next week, the new Vice President, General Gan Pampols, and the new heads of Justice and Emergencies will take office.

On Tuesday, the first meeting of the new Consell, the third under Carlos Mazón in just over a year, will take place. But before that, the President of the Generalitat wanted to catch his breath in his homeland after what was likely the worst month of his life. He did so with a visit to a very controlled location: the kitchens of Alicante Gastronómica Solidaria (AGS), the initiative of his "brother" Carlos Baño, president of the Alicante Chamber of Commerce.

He was accompanied by Baño himself and the director of AGS, Gema Amor. Alongside the PPCV president was the mayor of Mutxamel, Rafa García, and the party's secretary general in the province and vice president of the Diputación, Ana Serna.

Mazón expressed gratitude for the "essential work, effort, and commitment" of the volunteers in helping the people and municipalities affected by the flood in "a collective act of commitment and fraternity that the Valencian society will never forget." This entity has distributed over 175,000 hot meals in 16 municipalities affected by the flood in the province of Valencia.

Mazón highlighted the work of more than 5,000 volunteers who have prepared and distributed these meals and the collaboration of nearly 300 companies and individuals who have donated the raw materials. The president noted that the role of Alicante Gastronómica "is a testament to the solidarity of civil society and the thousands of volunteers who are contributing to the recovery of the affected municipalities."

Specifically, the food distribution by Alicante Gastronómica, in collaboration with the Gastrónoma fair in Valencia, began on November 1 in 16 municipalities: Alaquás, Albal, Aldaia, Alfafar, Algemesí, Alcúdia, Benetússer, Catarroja, Llocnou de la Corona, Massanassa, Paiporta, Picanya, Sedaví, Silla, Torrent, and Turís. Currently, new distribution points have been opened in other municipalities such as Beniparrell.

These distributions of hot meals, which follow the distribution points set by the Generalitat, are made directly to those affected in their homes, along with the delivery of fruit, water, or hygiene and cleaning products.

It should be remembered that since last Saturday, November 2, the Generalitat launched the Volunteer Platform, which has mobilised more than 20,000 people to participate in cleaning and organisational tasks required by the municipalities, always equipped with material and safety equipment such as boots or PPE, depending on the needs.