Victims' Associations Reject Claims of Communication from Generalitat President Mazón
Victim associations representing those affected by the DANA disaster on October 29 in the Comunidad Valenciana have firmly denied any claims made by the president of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón. The associations expressed their discontent over Mazón's recent assertions of ongoing communication and meetings with them, labeling his statements as deceptive.
During a press conference, representatives from three key groups—the Associació Victimes Mortals DANA 29O, the Associació Damnificats DANA Horta Sud Valencia, and the Association of Victims DANA October 29—stated that Mazón has not reached out to any of them. This came in response to his remarks made earlier that week where he insisted on the 'permanent and discreet' meetings occurring between his government and the disaster victims.
On the same day as Mazón’s comments, President Pedro Sánchez met with the victim associations, prompting questions about the validity of Mazón’s claims. In his statements to the press, Mazón said that sometimes victims prefer private meetings to avoid public exposure, suggesting that this was possibly why direct contact had not been made.
Rosa Álvarez, president of the Associació Víctimes Mortals DANA 29O, reacted strongly against Mazón's remarks. She emphasized that no outreach has taken place from the Generalitat, and criticized his statements, calling them misleading. "He has not contacted us; he has not reached out to any of the three associations," she stated emphatically. Álvarez also highlighted the severe consequences of the disaster, stating, "Surely he has not broken one plate but he has broken 228 lives and families, plus those who were saved in extremis,” referring to the tragic impact of the DANA disaster.
The victim associations made it clear that they will not initiate contact with Mazón or his administration. They stressed that it should be the responsibility of the government to seek out the affected individuals and provide the necessary support, rather than expecting those suffering from the crisis to reach out.
Álvarez concluded with uncertainty about what their response would be should there be direct outreach from the Generalitat, but asserted firmly: "It will not be us contacting him; we will not make that exception."
This tension between the victims' associations and the Generalitat emphasizes the importance of transparency and communication in times of crisis, as well as the need for the government to actively engage with those affected by natural disasters.
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