As the devastating DANA storm continues to sweep across Spain’s Mediterranean regions, an overlooked humanitarian crisis is emerging in El Ejido, Almería. Migrant workers living in makeshift settlements, already grappling with poor conditions, have seen their temporary homes battered by severe hailstorms.
Compounding the hardship, many of these workers face job insecurity due to extensive damage to the local crops they depend on for employment. The left-wing political coalition Izquierda Unida (IU) is now urging local authorities to implement an emergency plan to provide temporary shelter, food, and medical assistance.
The powerful hailstorm that struck on Tuesday left migrant settlements scattered across the area severely damaged. Housing structures, often constructed from weak materials, have been torn apart by hailstones the size of ping-pong balls. A representative from the humanitarian organisation Cáritas describes the situation as a “hidden humanitarian crisis”. Residents face health risks such as hypothermia and injuries from exposure, along with unsafe living conditions due to wastewater buildup and possible landslides. The lack of access to basic social services and isolation of these settlements only heightens their vulnerability.
Access challenges
Due to the dispersed nature of these makeshift communities, organisations like the Red Cross and Cepaim have faced logistical challenges in reaching those affected. Cepaim volunteers are currently assessing the damage and evaluating the safety of each settlement. Elena Hernández from Cepaim notes that these “precarious constructions” lack essential infrastructure. Consequently, leaving residents without protection from the elements. While emergency services have mobilised in other regions, El Ejido’s migrant camps have largely been left without support.
No work due to crop damage in surrounding areas
Adding to the plight of these workers, crop damage in the surrounding areas threatens their livelihoods. The regional agricultural association COAG estimates that over 50 hectares of greenhouses have been destroyed. Furthermore, an additional 4,000 hectares is significantly damaged. Andrés Góngora, Provincial Secretary of COAG Almería, emphasised that the impact on small, family-owned farms makes the losses even more severe. He calls for the area to be declared a state of emergency, stressing the irreplaceable damage in many cases.
Relief plan
In light of these events, IU is advocating for the El Ejido town council to enact an immediate relief plan. However, the proposal has not yet been met with a response. Herewith, reflecting a long-standing lack of support. The closure of the municipality’s transitory centre in 2017 has left the area’s migrant workers even more vulnerable.