Felipe VI and Letizia visited the Villamanta sports centre this Sunday, where 220 displaced individuals from the fires receive basic assistance and psychological support.
The Kings of Spain wanted to show their support for those affected by the wildfires ravaging the Community of Madrid. Felipe VI and Letizia visited the Villamanta sports centre this Sunday, one of the facilities set up to accommodate people who have had to leave their homes due to the fire.
The sports centre in this locality, located in the Sierra Sur of Madrid, currently houses 220 of the 120,000 people affected by the fires. There, the monarchs were received by the chief general of the Military Emergency Unit (UME), which has taken command of the emergency, and by the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso.
After the formal greetings, the Kings entered the premises without the presence of cameras to converse with the evacuees. According to sources from the Royal Household, the Queen showed interest in the personal situation of each individual, how they experienced leaving their homes, and how they feel at this moment.
In statements to the press afterwards, Felipe VI emphasised that the purpose of his visit was to "show our affection, support, understanding, and solidarity to all the evacuees." The Monarch recalled that "some have already been away from their homes for four days, they have lost many belongings... Overall, we have lost an incalculable natural heritage."
The King thanked "the availability and help of so many neighbours in a spirit of solidarity" who have rallied around those being accommodated. For her part, Queen Letizia highlighted the importance of "listening attentively to the neighbours, how they feel, how they experienced leaving their homes with the sadness, anguish, and uncertainty they describe."
The visit comes after the King participated in an emergency command meeting to gain firsthand knowledge of the evolution of the fires. In his remarks, Felipe VI also wanted to acknowledge the work of the deployed personnel: "the professional service of all the men and women who are deployed, who number in the thousands and are doing work that is commendable and worthy of praise."
The Monarch reminded that the fires do not only affect Madrid but also other areas of Spain, such as Valencia: "there is still a lot of summer ahead," he warned. Additionally, he praised the coordination between institutions, including assistance from EU countries that have provided resources for firefighting, despite France also suffering simultaneous fires.
The Kings have called for reflection on the future. "We need to reflect on what can be done better in the future, what can be done to prepare the environment. This involves many instances, people, experts, and citizens of all kinds," Felipe VI noted, inviting "a collaborative and team effort" to prevent disasters like this from recurring.
The Villamanta shelter provides basic assistance for personal hygiene and meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It also offers social and psychological support provided by social workers and psychologists. The beds have been set up by the UME or by the municipalities themselves. The royal visit has served to highlight the work of volunteers and the solidarity shown by local residents, who have rallied to support those affected.
