Flood one year later: the indispensable work of Emergency in Faenza, symbol of the gravity of the situation

It was the symbol of the serious emergency into which the flood dragged Faenza. At the request of the Municipality, from Sunday 21 May 2023 Emergency began the activities of the informal volunteering logistics hub at the Faenza Exhibition Centre, in via Risorgimento 2. The team managed the reception, storage and distribution of primary goods to the population needs and material for the reclamation of houses. The logistics hub managed by Emergency was the single collection center for donated aid for the local population. «An environmental and climate emergency that affected 22 thousand people and caused 4 thousand displacements, leaving long-term consequences in individual lives and in the social fabric – underline from Emergency -. The traumas caused by the flood have in fact generated emotional breakdowns, states of anxiety and depression for those who have lost everything, making mental health needs fundamental. In fact, even today, 12 months after the flood, the impact – material and internal – of having to rebuild one’s daily life and living with the effects of such a natural disaster is strong.”

PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT
The project of psychological and socio-administrative support for the victims of the flood in Faenza represented the second phase of Emergency’s post-flood intervention. «One of our teams mapped the needs of citizens in the area, at the same time offering psychosocial assistance and directing those who need it to active services in the area – they underline again from the non-profit organization founded by Gino Strada -. Welcoming the traumas and internal fragilities that arose following the flood – a far-reaching traumatic event – and not abandoning those who need to preserve their mental health was essential to allow lonely people, the elderly, young people and entire families to get up and look forward no longer with resignation, but with hope. In collaboration with the Faenza Health District and the Municipality of Faenza, we carried out psychotherapy interviews in person or remotely and supported people in accessing the services to which they were entitled, such as tenders for the assignment of housing solutions designed for those who have lost their homes, contributions, help available for those who, after the flood, find themselves in situations of socio-economic difficulty”.

A CARD FOR FAMILIES
A card to give concrete help to the families of Faenza, who were facing the consequences of the floods that hit the Region in May, to return to their homes. It was one of the Emergency projects, in collaboration with the Union of Romagna Faentina and the «Faenza C’entro» Consortium which, after the flood events of May 2023, had established a solidarity network. The objective was to allow the families most affected by the flood to purchase goods useful for returning to their homes from local businesses with a gift card at prices lower than market prices – through the application of discounts and cumulative offers. For the initiative, Emergency made a budget of 350 thousand euros available. «We think it is essential to support citizens even in the reconstruction phase. Just as we believe it is strategic to support the economic activities of the area, also affected by the floods, in their recovery – Nicola Ciano, director of Emergency fundraising, declared in those days -. Gift cards are further support for the population. Emergency’s intervention in Faenza had in fact begun in the early stages of the flood when the association collected and distributed basic necessities to the population, managing a hub, and coordinated the work of the thousands of volunteers who arrived in the city to give a hand to remove water and mud. It is also offering a psychological support service to the affected population.” (mp)