Images of desolation from Spain have been flooding our media for almost a week. Thousands of victims, hundreds of deaths, many missing… On the ground, the population remains faced with a complicated situation, due to the damage caused by bad weather to transport and telecommunications infrastructures. In many communities, piles of mud-covered cars and debris remain on the roadways.
A tragedy which brings back bad memories for Belgians: the floods of July 2021 in the Liège region. So, without hesitating for a second, many citizens decided to help.
In Fleurus, Nathalie Bastin organized a collection of donations of basic necessities this weekend: “The idea came from one of my friends in Spain“, she explains, “we had to react. I launched the call, the commune of Bon Villers relayed it on its Facebook page.“
Two days of harvest, for departure this Monday, November 4 to Spain: “It was a professional truck driver, who wanted to remain anonymous, who offered to help. He has a truck, he will tour several towns and go down to the disaster area.“
An impressive mobilization
In a few hours, Nathalie sees the house she uses for donations filling up with boxes and bags: “This is great, I wasn’t expecting all of this at all!“
In two hours, there is an almost uninterrupted flow of citizens who come to bring everything: “I brought blankets, clothes, baby wipes“, explains this lady. “I thought about cat food.”says another to us as she unloads a full trunk. Nathalie’s phone won’t stop ringing: “It doesn’t stop, it’s incredible! There is a lady who wants to bring us a baby bed and a stroller. I hope everything fits in the truck! (laughs)”
Collections were also organized in Liège and Rixensart.
