Arabic version: سكان تينيريفي يحتجون على وصول سفينة هانتافيروس
Tenerife residents are expressing a mix of anger and resignation as the MV Hondius cruise ship approaches the island, carrying passengers from a hantavirus outbreak. The Spanish government, in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO), has permitted the ship to disembark this weekend, despite concerns from local workers about potential health risks. According to BBC News, dock workers gathered outside the Canary Islands’ parliament in Santa Cruz to voice their apprehensions.
Protesters, including Joana Batista from a local port workers’ union, demanded safety measures before the ship’s arrival. They voiced their dissatisfaction with the lack of information regarding how passengers would be transported and how this could affect local health. Some workers threatened to block the ship if their demands were not met, insisting that local residents need reassurance about their safety.
The Socialist-led central government has addressed these concerns by announcing that the MV Hondius will not dock directly in Tenerife but will anchor offshore. Passengers will be ferried to the Granadilla industrial port, away from residential areas, and will be repatriated or quarantined in Madrid shortly after arrival. Virginia Barcones, head of Spain’s civil protection agency, assured locals that there would be no contact between passengers and residents who “will be absolutely and completely protected.”
While some islanders remain uneasy, others like Marialaina Retina Fernández, a pensioner, expressed relief at the government’s transparency regarding the situation. She indicated her hope that the authorities would manage the arrival effectively, despite her reservations. The arrival of the MV Hondius has also sparked political discourse, with the far-right Vox party leveraging the situation to draw parallels with illegal migration, reflecting the broader concerns about health and safety in the region.
As Tenerife prepares for the ship’s arrival, the mixed sentiments among residents underscore the complexities of handling health crises in a region already grappling with migration issues. Many locals, while frustrated, acknowledge their experience in managing such challenges, hoping that the situation will be handled without incident.
