The President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, announced this Wednesday that her Government will request the urgent activation of the European Union Solidarity Fund due to the fire originating in the Sierra Oeste, which has affected about 27,000 hectares in the region and has left about 100 primary residences destroyed.
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This fund is the European Union’s instrument designed to support Member States affected by major natural disasters, financing part of the extraordinary expenses arising from emergency and recovery actions.
As it is a mechanism whose request corresponds to the Member State, the regional Government has urged Pedro Sánchez’s central Government to promote this request before the European institutions “with the urgency required by an emergency of these characteristics due to the severity of the fires and the significant environmental, economic, and social damage they are causing,” the regional Government reported.
“Far from abandoning those who have properties, land, houses, or are tourists in the western area, what we ask is that they stay there, that they do not abandon us and do not abandon their people, that they continue going and moving around,” Ayuso requested.
Specific measures
To rebuild the area affected by the fire, Ayuso’s Government has launched about fifty immediate, medium, and long-term actions to reconstruct the Sierra Oeste.
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In the short term, hotel places will be offered to those neighbors who cannot return to their homes. An emergency device has been set up to accompany vulnerable people back home. Ten million euros will be allocated for extraordinary actions for the elderly. Another 20 million euros will also be allocated to the regional investment program for urgent actions in the 17 affected municipalities; employment demand will be automatically renewed, and employment programs in the affected municipalities will be extended. Additionally, a free advisory service on labor and social security issues will be launched for those affected by the fire, and there will be aid for self-employed people to resume their activity.
Regarding the 200 kilometers of damaged roads, a temporary shared transport service on demand will be launched.
In total, there are 17 affected localities, where more than 56,000 residents live. These are Aldea del Fresno, Cadalso de los Vidrios, Cenicientos, Chapinería, Colmenar del Arroyo, El Escorial – due to the evacuation of the Peralejo hamlet, Fresnedillas de la Oliva, Navalagamella, Navas del Rey, Pelayos de la Presa, Robledo de Chavela, Rozas de Puerto Real, San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Santa María de la Alameda, Valdemaqueda, Villa del Prado, and Zarzalejo.
There will also be aid for the self-employed and businesses in those affected localities and a free legal assistance service for those affected. Regarding animals, a free veterinary service will be offered to carry out tests on them.
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