Two Hundred Files Move Forward as Valencia Fires Recovery Effort Accelerates
In just over a week, the Generalitat Valenciana began processing a large batch of two hundred files submitted by residents affected by the August fires in the Valencian Community, specifically in Vall d’Ebo and Bejís in Castellón. The president of the Generalitat, Ximo Puig, who presides over today’s plenary session in Vall d’Ebo, announced that the priority is to deliver a swift response to both the city councils and the affected residents, with a view to normalizing life as quickly as possible. Following this phase, plans will be approved to restart activity in the fire impacted zones and to promote a Vega Renhace style socioeconomic revitalization, modeled after the Vega Baja initiative after the 2019 season of disaster. The aim is to create a clear path to recovery that incorporates both immediate relief and longer term economic renewal. This approach reflects a commitment to close partnership with local authorities and to mobilize central resources for rapid, practical support.
To speed up the process of compensating losses, the Generalitat opened two offices at the disaster epicenters, one in Alicante and another in Castellón. Puig visited the Vall d’Ebo office and underscored that the measure supports the fronts most likely to struggle with staffing constraints in sparsely populated municipalities. In those communities, local offices may lack the personnel to manage compensation and expert reporting, so the government has stepped in to oversee the preparation of expert reports through offices established by the Ministry of Justice. This arrangement is designed to streamline procedures and ensure timely assistance for residents and local councils. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to coordinate relief with municipal authorities and state agencies, ensuring consistency across affected areas. (Valencian Government, 2024)
Vall d’Ebo Fire Destroys 3,000 Hectares of Crops and Causes 193 Million Euros in Losses
The head of the Consell emphasized that the total number of files may rise, as affected residents have a full 30 days to complete the required procedures. This timeline provides a window for families and businesses to gather documentation and submit claims, while authorities finalize the processing framework and continue to expand assistance where needed. The aim is to maintain momentum in aid delivery without compromising accuracy or fairness. (Consell Communications Office, 2024)
Transportation on Demand
To safeguard essential services in sparsely populated municipalities, the Generalitat approved direct temporary assistance to enable the implementation of on demand public transport. The measure targets 365 municipalities with populations of 5,000 or fewer, allocating a total of five million euros to establish flexible transport options that connect residents with education, health, and social service centers, while also supporting local economic and social revitalization. This initiative was clarified by a spokesperson for the Consell, who noted that the decree enables municipalities to operate transport services on demand, tailored to local needs and timetables, and to coordinate with existing transport networks. (Valencian Administration, 2024)
Beneficiary municipalities will receive a basic grant of five thousand euros each, with a higher initial allocation of seven thousand euros for towns facing higher risk or greater distance from central services. The distribution of the remaining funds will follow two paths: half will be allocated according to legal population as of 2021, and the other half will be proportioned by the distance from the main population center to the nearest reference hospital. This dual approach aims to balance population size with access to critical health infrastructure, ensuring that remote areas gain meaningful mobility enhancements. (National Institute of Statistics, 2023)
Municipalities seeking to provide the new services must contract approved passenger transport operators registered in the Transport Companies and Activities Registry. The services may be discretionary or regular and are intended to meet local needs for travel to health, education, social, or administrative centers. Stops in neighborhood districts will be aligned with paths that connect to regular transport lines, reinforcing access and reducing travel barriers for residents across rural districts. (Valencian Transport Authority, 2024)