Volunteers and Municipal Workers Unite to Clean Up Loures Neighborhood After Demolition

In Loures, dozens of volunteers and municipal technicians are cleaning up a neighborhood that turned into rubble following the demolition of 55 shacks by the local authority. The operation, which began this Saturday, aims to restore dignity to the residents and clear the debris left behind.

A collective effort saw around 50 volunteers from the Vida Justa movement join forces with municipal workers to tackle the massive cleanup. José Pina, a volunteer, emphasized the goal to "give back some of the dignity that was taken" from the residents and to organize the belongings of those left homeless.

The cleanup operation involves separating reusable materials like zinc sheets and wood strips from the rubble. Under a makeshift shelter, a team manages food donations, providing meals to the dozens of men, women, and children now living in tents on the site of their former homes.

The demolition of 64 shacks, housing 161 people, started last Monday but was halted after two days when a Lisbon court issued an injunction following a legal challenge by residents. The local authority has offered support to 14 of the 55 affected families, with others finding temporary housing with relatives or friends.

Carla Santos, a local resident coordinating food distribution, highlighted the urgent need for ready-to-eat meals due to the lack of cooking facilities. Nearby recreational societies offer storage for belongings and shower facilities, crucial for residents to maintain hygiene for work.

Kedy Santos, a municipal deputy, pointed out that most residents are employed, some by companies serving the municipality, and criticized the lack of government response. He stressed the need for structural solutions to the underlying social issues beyond just housing.

The municipality stated that the cleanup was a pre-planned intervention involving about a hundred workers from various municipal services and parish councils. It also reiterated that social support was available to all affected individuals before, during, and after the demolition.