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Date Published: 10/08/2022

ARCHIVED - Support for Murcia city homeless during the heatwave

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

Murcia City Council has launched 'Operation Heat' to offer aid to people living on the street in extreme weather conditions

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Support for Murcia city homeless during the heatwave

Thermometers have failed to dip below the mid-30 mark over the last week in Murcia as sweltering conditions continue without let-up, posing an extreme risk of heatstroke and even death, particularly for the homeless in the city.

With this in mind and to offer direct support, Murcia City Council, through the Mobile Emergency and Social Care Service (SEMAS), launched 'Operación Calor' (Operation heat) last week and has already carried out 195 assistances; 164 with men and 31 with women.

The SEMAS team has been most active offering support in the areas of: Plano de San Francisco, Gran Vía Escultor Salzillo, Plaza Martínez Tornel, Glorieta de España, Avenida Teniente Flomesta, Barriomar, Floridablanca garden, Barrio del Carmen and the Chinese garden.

As well as handing out hats to protect from the sun, fans and bottles of fresh water to stay hydrated, SEMAS staff provide information and guidance on services and support available.

Also read: Heastroke claims a victim in Murcia with another worker critical in the ICU

The service works in teams of two officials; a social worker and a local police officer.

"They inform homeless people about the different social resources available to them in the municipality, establishing personal and direct contact that also allows them to get to know each particular situation and generate a link that facilitates their process of intervention and social inclusion," explained the city council.

Depending on the homeless person's specific circumstances, SEMAS offers various resources, such as a transfer to the Fundación Patronato Jesús Abandonado homeless centre or other accommodation or hospital centre, as well as monitoring their progress.

Operation Heat is regulated according to the three alert levels (yellow, orange and red) issued by Aemet at any given time.

During the previous red heat alert, the sports facilities of the Palacio de los Deportes were made available to house and care for around 40 homeless people for the duration of the high temperatures.

In episodes of extreme heat, the Social Services also increase preventive and intervention measures for users of the telecare and home care services.

Now read: Urgent recall of Lidl, Aldi and Mercadona ice-cream in Spain

Image: Ayuntamiento de Murcia

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