On Saturday, January 18, 2025, the Moroccan League of Young Newspaper Editors, in collaboration with the Amieva Cultural and Musical Association and the City Hall of Santander, organized a solidarity festival at the Santander Exhibition Palace in support of the victims of the DANA floods that affected the city of Valencia, Spain.
The solidarity event, with tickets offered at symbolic prices to raise funds for the victims and their families, featured a variety of activities.
Among them, the “musical bingo” stood out, along with an official presentation of the Moroccan and Spanish authorities and personalities involved, led by Mr. Mohamed Jebari, Consul General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Bilbao. The event also included workshops for tasting Moroccan pastries and dishes, henna and calligraphy sessions, as well as musical performances by renowned Spanish artist Eva Amieva, accompanied by Moroccan artists and pianist Ahmed Jaddawi. These activities reflected the deep spirit of solidarity between Morocco and Spain in difficult times.
The festival coincided with the celebrations of the Moroccan community, both inside and outside the country, for the arrival of the Amazigh New Year 2975, which promoted and celebrated Morocco’s rich Amazigh culture and music.
In his speech, Mr. Mohamed Jebari expressed: “On behalf of the Kingdom of Morocco, I extend our deepest condolences and sincere solidarity with the families of the victims and those affected by the DANA flood tragedy in Spain, as well as with the Spanish people and their neighbors.”
He also emphasized that Morocco, following the high instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, had mobilized significant logistical resources to contribute to rescue and rehabilitation efforts in the affected areas, reaffirming the values of neighborhood and brotherhood that unite Morocco and Spain.
Mr. Jebari highlighted the role of the Moroccan community in Spain, which also suffered human and material losses due to the DANA hurricane, and praised the active collaboration of many Moroccan associations and volunteers in restoring normal life in the affected cities.
For his part, Mr. Mateo Echevarría Méndez, Councilor for Transparency, Migration, and Development Cooperation of the City Hall of Santander, thanked everyone for attending the event and stated: “This solidarity festival is a bridge of communication between Morocco and Spain. We have always been brotherly peoples in every sense. The proceeds from this event, along with other activities, will contribute to supporting the victims while allowing us to enjoy the rich Moroccan cuisine.”
Eva Amieva, president of the Amieva Cultural and Musical Association, especially thanked Consul General Mohamed Jebari, Councilor Mateo Echevarría, and the City Hall of Santander for their institutional support. She emphasized the importance of this festival in raising funds for the victims and promoting the values of solidarity in times of crisis.
Mr. Mohamed Fajri, president of the Moroccan League of Young Newspaper Editors, highlighted: “The participation of diplomats, journalists, artists, intellectuals, civil society, and the Moroccan community living in Spain is a clear demonstration of our deep and sincere support for the victims of the DANA floods in Valencia and their families, wishing for a speedy recovery for those affected and their regions.”
For his part, Mr. Aimane Reghais, co-director of the festival, concluded: “This event not only celebrated our rich cultural diversity but also represented the values that unite us as human beings. I hope the success of this event will inspire future collaborations to further strengthen bilateral relations between Morocco and Spain.”
This cultural, artistic, and solidarity festival aimed primarily to promote solidarity and mutual understanding between Morocco and Spain, further solidifying the ties that have reached their peak after Spain’s historic recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.
