Emergency Response Team Deploys Mobile Aid Center in Ponte da Barca
Portuguese Red Cross Deploys Humanitarian Aid Strategy for Rural Wildfires
In response to the ongoing wildfires in Portugal, particularly in the areas of Penafiel and Ponte da Barca, the Portuguese Red Cross has activated a robust and articulated strategy for delivering humanitarian aid. This strategy, which is part of a broader climate-adaptive approach, includes the deployment of mobile humanitarian support units and the establishment of Rest Space facilities.
The mobile units, such as those recently activated in Ponte da Barca, provide immediate aid to communities impacted by the fires, delivering essential services to address protection, health, and recovery needs. The Red Cross has mobilized 48 emergency ambulances, 15 communication officers, and around 100 operational personnel in rural fires in various locations.
The Rest Space initiative serves as a safe, climate-resilient refuge for individuals fleeing rural fires. These facilities, designed as rapid response centers, prioritize the overall well-being of operational personnel, ensuring they can recover strength, receive health monitoring, and resume service in better physical and psychological conditions. The first Rest Space was activated in Ponte da Barca, accommodating up to 100 operational personnel simultaneously and 500 on a rotating basis.
The strategy also targets support to the most vulnerable populations in remote areas, addressing both immediate physical safety and longer-term recovery in the context of climate change challenges. As an auxiliary entity of the public powers, the Portuguese Red Cross acts in a complementary manner, reinforcing existing means and offering integrated responses centered on people.
This approach is integrated within a wider regional approach by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to confront increasing wildfire risks and heatwaves across Europe. The fires have destroyed an extensive area of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, and the Red Cross has provided 22 field assists in the current emergency response.
The cooperation between entities is evident in the Continente Mission's support of the Rest Space initiative, demonstrating the collaboration between public and private entities. Responding to critical situations requires coordination, mutual aid, and collective commitment, according to António Saraiva, president of the CVP. Effective and humane responses, both for operational personnel and affected communities, can only be guaranteed with this articulation.
The fires in Ponte da Barca have been active for nearly a week, and the fire involves 664 personnel, 227 vehicles, and one aerial means. Gonçalo Orfão, National Emergency Coordinator of the CVP, considers the activation of the REST SPACE in Ponte da Barca as a significant step in the humanitarian response to climate change-related challenges, such as large-scale rural fires.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy of the Portuguese Red Cross for a humanitarian response to climate change-related challenges. As the climate crisis continues to pose new challenges, the Red Cross remains committed to providing essential services and support to those affected by natural disasters like wildfires.
What role does the Portuguese Red Cross play in addressing climate-change challenges, particularly in relation to wildfires? The strategy of the Portuguese Red Cross includes the deployment of mobile humanitarian support units for immediate aid and the establishment of climate-resilient Rest Space facilities, which prioritize the overall well-being of operational personnel, serve as a refuge for individuals fleeing rural fires, and respond to the needs of vulnerable populations in the context of environmental-science concerns.
