Fundación Secretariado Gitano

Fundación Secretariado Gitano regrets the outcome of the fire in Vigo, Spain, on 11 October in which four Roma people lost their lives. [editar]

• Acción Institucional
• Galicia

• On the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we want to denounce the bitterest face of extreme poverty and child poverty: 3 of the deceased are minors.

In the early hours of 11 October, a fire broke out in a block of flats in the city of Vigo, in which 4 members of the same family have lost their lives, 3 of them minors, as well as leaving more than a dozen people affected and in need of medical attention. Although the causes are still being investigated, the fire brigade report indicates that it was not arson.

The FSG deeply regrets the death of these four people, known and appreciated by our team in Vigo and Coruña, and we want to convey all our solidarity and affection to their families and friends, whom we have been accompanying in these difficult moments.

This terrible outcome reminds us of the importance of investing and accompanying all processes of social and residential inclusion in a correct and comprehensive manner, being necessary to offer a housing alternative. What has happened in recent days must serve to promote comprehensive and specific measures to put an end to the situations of extreme poverty that many Roma families still suffer today. These are situations that lead to cascading violations of their fundamental rights and have a profound impact on children's rights.

We ask the public administrations for sensitivity and responsibility seek for short-term solutions that provide the affected families with a place to live these hard times. In addition, we also call for medium and long-term solutions that bring about a real change in the situation of extreme poverty faced by most of the families affected by the fire, among whom there are several minors, making the need to take decisions all the more urgent.

Furthermore, we ask the media for respect and responsibility in these difficult times, as since last Wednesday, all kinds of information related to this case has been broadcast, which does not help to clarify the investigation, nor does it help the families affected in these difficult times.

FSG has already requested several formal meetings with both the Government of Galicia and the City Council of Vigo to provide a coordinated response that can address this situation. In addition, we will continue to accompany the affected families as we have been doing these days.