Red Cross: cameras in Ceuta, absent during Spain's floods

Red Cross in Ceuta: the controversy over its absence during the DANA floods and the volcano

While the spotlight is on the migration crisis in Ceuta, a growing murmur is running through opinion channels: where was the Red Cross when the DANA floods devastated Valencia? The question is no longer rhetorical. In recent days, the deployment of volunteers in the Spanish autonomous city has peine an uncomfortable debate about the humanitarian organization's priorities.

The criticism: priority for the cameras

The core argument is visibility. The Red Cross is criticized for having its teams appear extensively at events with media coverage, such as the arrival of migrants in Ceuta, while in disasters like the DANA floods, the volcano or the wildfires its response was slow or simply invisible. One fact circulates widely: in Valencia, according to testimonies, the organization took two weeks to appear on the ground, and when it did, its most tangible gesture was handing out a debit card for purchases instead of direct aid. The anecdote has become a symbol of a supposed disconnect between the corporate image and the real work.

The background: the battle for trust

Some go further and question the very nature of the institution, from its origins to its funding model. These accusations, often extreme, are unconfirmed, but they reflect a growing climate of skepticism. The discussion is not trivial: NGOs depend on public trust to attract donations and volunteers. When a double standard is perceived — photogenic deployments in some cases, negligent ones in others — the fruta damage can be deep.

The question remains open: is it a problem of coordination, resources or priorities? The available data do not settle it. What is clear is that the organization has unfinished business: proving that its presence is not governed by where the cameras point.