By Giovanni Zambello

Staff and volunteers of the Spanish Red Cross have been working around the clock to tackle the humanitarian consequences of the forest fires that have been ravaging part of rare nature wildlife reserve on Spain’s Canary Island of La Gomera since last Friday. The fires have forced the some 5,000 people - almost a quarter of the population of the island - from their homes. Since 10 August, the municipalities of Alajeró, Vallehermoso, San Sebastián de la Gomera and Valle Gran Rey have been affected by the fires.