💬 \"The people's applause is our vitamins,\" says Javier Ardanaz, a veteran rescuer leading Spain's DyA (Stop and Help) team through the pandemic's toughest challenges. For 54 years, this nonprofit has evolved from roadside accident helpers to global humanitarian heroes—and now, they’re fighting an invisible enemy at home.
From Tsunamis to Sanitizers 🌊→🧴
Ardanaz, who’s tackled disasters like Indonesia’s 2004 tsunami and Pakistan’s earthquakes, calls COVID-19 his \"most unpredictable mission.\" In Spain’s Basque Country, DyA crews:
🚑 Transport COVID patients to hospitals
🦠 Disinfect medical centers + senior homes
👮 Patrol to ensure safety rules are followed
❤️ Deliver vital care to vulnerable residents
Applause Keeps Them Going 👏
While global crises often take DyA abroad, Ardanaz says this local battle hits differently: \"We’re used to rushing into danger zones, but this time, danger is everywhere.\" Yet nightly cheers from balconies—Spain’s iconic lockdown tradition—fuel their resolve. 🌙✨
Reporting by Luis Carballo, Carlos Marlasca, and Aldo Ferraris
