On Saturday, a group of trekkers stepped up volunteer actions in Tende.

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Facebook / Martial Solidarité Michel

A petition signed by more than a thousand people, letters and texts from elected officials… and still no official response.

In the valleys of the Alpes-Maritimes ravaged by storm Alex a month ago, the general reconfinement makes residents fear that they will be even more isolated, abandoned.

This is particularly the case in the Roya.

From Thursday morning, the day after the announcement of the reconfinement by President Emmanuel Macron, the mayor of Breil-sur-Roya confided his concerns to

20 Minutes

 : "We fear that the confinement will definitely kill mutual aid in Roya!"

We are still holding on because we have at least a hundred volunteers every day who come from outside, sometimes up to 400 at weekends, plus a hundred locals ”.

“If the volunteers are forced to stay at home, it will become a real problem, anticipated Sébastien Olharan.

In Roya, we are in truly exceptional circumstances.

If anyone deserves a waiver, it's us!

"

Curfew yes, confinement no!

The five mayors of the Roya valley have asked not to be confined during the day.

“That we can stay on a model of confinement at 7 pm, summarizes Sébastien Olharan, and that the volunteers can come from outside.

Perhaps with a registration system, so as not to increase the risk of contamination or end up with people more concerned with escaping containment than helping.

"

The deputy (LREM) of the constituency, Alexandra Valetta-Ardisson, had for her part requested a derogation from the prefect responsible for the reconstruction of the disaster areas.

On Twitter, the senior official replied that "emergency management and reconstruction work are priorities to ensure, in the valleys, a return to vital functions for the populations [accessibility, supply ...]".

"The State is mobilized with the local authorities", it was specified.

Emergency management and reconstruction work are priorities to ensure, in the valleys, a return to vital functions for the populations (accessibility, supply, etc.).

The State is mobilized with the local authorities @ prefet06 https://t.co/NEG8fXsNJD

- Xavier Pelletier (@xavierpelletier) October 29, 2020

"I will take measures myself"

The wording is not the most explicit.

As for the mayor of Breil-sur-Roya, he did not get better: "I still have not received anything following my request," he confided Monday morning at

20 Minutes

.

There seems to be tolerance, but we need clear answers to give to our constituents.

Otherwise, I will take measures myself.

"

The young elected representative will be able to sign municipal decrees, as some mayors have done, such as Lionnel Luca in Villeneuve-Loubet, to allow small businesses to remain open.

While waiting for details from the prefecture (which did not respond to the request for

20 Minutes on

 Monday), volunteers continue to go to Roya to help the inhabitants.

Like this group of 34 Azurean trekkers who went up to Tende to clean up the river, reopen a path and build footbridges.

Society

Storm Alex in the Alpes-Maritimes: the mayor of Breil-sur-Roya calls for help from the army

Nice

Storm Alex in the Alpes-Maritimes: A prefect appointed to supervise the reconstruction of the valleys

  • Natural disaster

  • Storm

  • Nice

  • Confinement

  • Volunteering