© Ferdinand du ChavelierAfter the devastating floods in Valencia in October 2024, GBGE and Paiporta City Council launched a large-scale humanitarian aid response, establishing Warehouse 51 as the central distribution hub and implementing the Circular Solidarity system to minimise waste and maximise aid distribution efficiency.
IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO CATASTROPHE
The DANA that struck Valencia in October 2024 was unprecedented, with torrential rains and flooding claiming 227 lives and leaving three people missing. In total, 79 municipalities, home to 850,000 residents, were cut off from basic necessities, and homes were destroyed. GBGE, in collaboration with Paiporta City Council, took on the critical task of coordinating Warehouse 51, the central humanitarian aid hub in the most affected area, providing essential supplies to the vulnerable population from the immediate aftermath until March 2025.
IMPLEMENTING CIRCULAR SOLIDARITY
GBGE recognised the substantial waste generated by humanitarian donations and launched the Circular Solidarity system to address it. This approach focused on reducing waste while ensuring rapid aid distribution, recovering and repurposing damaged goods such as clothing, furniture, and tools. Over five months, the initiative prevented tons of items from being discarded, salvaging 12.5 tons of clothing and blankets and recovering over 1,000 personal items, including photographs and musical scores, that were returned to their owners.
BUILDING A NEW HUMANITARIAN MODEL
Coordinating over 3,000 volunteers and 5,000 military personnel, GBGE managed the receipt, storage, and redistribution of nearly 40,000 tons of humanitarian aid, establishing 19 direct distribution points across the municipality. The project’s impact extended beyond immediate relief, leading to the creation of the Circular Management Manual for Humanitarian Aid Warehouses, a comprehensive guide aimed at helping other humanitarian organisations adopt sustainable practices in crisis response.
