The Government of Spain has so far mobilised €1 billion in direct aid for the victims of the DANA and in transport infrastructure

The Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, has taken stock in Valencia of the measures, actions and aid provided by the Government of Spain for the people affected by the hurricane. "Around €1 billion in aid and investment in transport infrastructures have already been mobilised to achieve the normality we want for Valencians as fast as possible," he said.

"The Government of Spain has been with the people affected by the DANA from the very first moment, and has placed all the state's resources at the service of the cause," he added.

The minister pointed out that the Government of Spain has already paid €600 million in aid to those affected. In addition, €380 million has been invested in the recovery, "in record time and with an unprecedented effort", of transport infrastructures.

Torres added that along with the economic effort, the Government of Spain has carried out a "historic deployment" in terms of human resources on the ground. "19,000 troops, including armed forces and state law enforcement forces and agencies, in addition to more than 500 public employees who have joined the delegations, sub-delegations and offices as reinforcements - there are already 87, plus two mobile units - to speed up the processing of aid".

"What happened was unprecedented in our country, and so is the mobilisation of aid deployed," said Torres, who said he understood the plight of the people affected and that "the Government of Spain is not going to sit back".

As chairman of the Interministerial Commission for the development of urgent measures for the territory affected by the DANA, he described the Government of Spain's contributions to date.

He explained that the aid paid out by the Insurance Compensation Consortium "has increased considerably", with 92% of applications already being processed and more than €323 million disbursed to almost 24,000 people.

Meanwhile, aid issued by the Treasury aimed at companies and the self-employed "is progressing at a good pace", with 77% of it already processed to the effect of €261 million, which has benefited 20,204 companies and the self-employed.

With regard to the applications for aid for the cessation of activity, 70% have already been approved and granted, totalling almost 3,300 self-employed and worker beneficiaries.

In addition, more than 9,000 people have had their Minimum Basic Income (IMV) increased, and 2,825 companies are in ERTE, which is benefiting more than 30,000 people.

A total of 66% of the requested advances have been paid

Some €16 million of direct aid has been disbursed in advances, mainly for damage to houses and household goods. "And payments have already been authorised that will increase that amount from €16 to €40 million in the coming days," he announced.

The minister encouraged those affected to apply "without fear" for advances for household goods and housing. "Maybe they are afraid because there has been misinformation about it, but they are not going to be asked to pay anything back. They are advanced 50% of the aid they are entitled to, and they do not have to pay it back".

The minister assured that just over 3,000 applications for advances on household goods and housing subsidies have so far been submitted, and that more than 2,000 have already been paid, which is equivalent to 66% of the applications.

Latest measures taken by the Government

Torres also listed the latest measures activated this week by the different ministries, detailing that the Ministry of Finance has allocated €700 million from the Autonomous Community Liquidity Fund (FLA) to the Generalitat Valenciana to cover the extraordinary expenses caused by the DANA.

The Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport yesterday approved €15 million in aid for goods such as school supplies, while the Ministry of Health has earmarked money for mental health.

In addition, in the next few days, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise will present a special addendum to Europe for the re-programming of around €1.5 billion to relaunch the areas affected by the DANA and, in turn, the Valencian economy.

"This addendum will focus on the adaptation of transport infrastructure to climate change, water infrastructure, resilient environments and agriculture, resilient town planning, sustainable mobility, and labour and social inclusion," he said.

As for the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy, the Council of Ministers yesterday approved a social employment plan costing €50 million euros.

For its part, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is already working on the recovery and restoration of rural roads, irrigation channels and irrigation systems, and farms, with cleaning and repair work.

The minister also highlighted that that very day the Ministry of Industry and Tourism had launched the platform to manage the aid for vehicle acquisition of the Reinicia Plan for the DANA, with a network of 1,300 dealers involved and grants worth €10,000. A total of €465 million is earmarked for this plan.

Last, Torres indicated that yesterday, Tuesday, the application of the Contingency Fund for the amount of €50 million and the granting of an extraordinary credit in the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and 2030 Agenda was authorised.

Stop fake news

Ángel Víctor Torres, who was accompanied by the Secretary of State for Territorial Policy, Arcadi España, and the Government Delegate in the Valencian Community, Pilar Bernabé, emphasised during his speech the damage caused by fake news and disinformation. To this effect, he took the time to deny some of these false reports. "The direct aid from the Tax Agency, which has already been received by more than 20,000 self-employed workers and companies affected, does not have to be paid back," he stressed.

He also clarified that neither does aid for the purchase of vehicles, and that aid received for personal injury is "exempt from personal income tax and cannot be reclaimed".

Non official translation