Portugal has been in the grip of violent fires for several days in the centre and north of the country. Rain is now expected, but many victims have lost everything. The Portuguese community of Côte-d’Or is mobilising to provide them with support. The Ulfe association, Portuguese from Dijon, has collected numerous donations that should be delivered this weekend.
“We are all very moved by all this”
Since the appeal launched by the association, donations have continued to flow in, like that of Francisco who stops at the premises with his arms full.
“I brought two bags. A bag of clothes and then one with medicines and small things that are most necessary because I put myself in the place of these people” details Francisco. At the reception, Linda Costa, a volunteer member of the association, takes inventory of the collection. “There are cakes, drinks, bottles of water too, milk, dry products that keep of course. No fresh products, obviously.”
Several pharmacies have also donated medical equipment, burn creams, physiological fluid. Everything will be useful on site.
Stephanie Perenon
This solidarity goes straight to Linda’s heart.
“We were born there. So when we see the landscape we had in August and then what we see now in the images on TV, but also what our families tell us, it’s heartbreaking. We are all very moved by all of this. Even talking about it like this is hard!” Linda explains, her voice full of emotion.
In total, two full trucks will leave this weekend and a third should also leave Dijon on Monday before reaching their final destination, the center and the north of Portugal. Trucks that must also collect donations in Chalon sur Saône and Digoin in Saône et Loire and finally in Bordeaux. The Ulfe association is now waiting for instructions from the Portuguese authorities before relaunching an appeal and indicates that donations can be made to the Portuguese Red Cross.
Stephanie Perenon
