GALP and Red Cross Launch €1 million storm recovery programme

The GALP Foundation and the Portuguese Red Cross have launched a €1 million programme to support communities affected by the winter’s storms and flooding in Portugal, combining emergency relief with long-term recovery and climate resilience measures.

The GALP | Community Resilience 2026 Programme is already being rolled out by the Portuguese Red Cross and will focus on three priorities: immediate emergency assistance, economic and social recovery, and strengthening communities’ preparedness for future extreme weather events.

The first phase is under way, with emergency housing provided for families whose homes were rendered uninhabitable by recent storms.

In the central municipality of Marinha Grande, 11 modular homes and two standalone sanitary units have been installed, providing accommodation for nine families – 36 people in total. The temporary housing is intended to offer safe, dignified living conditions while permanent solutions are arranged.

“This programme reflects our vision of responsibility: responding rapidly to emergencies while also contributing to long-term solutions that make a lasting difference,” said João Marques da Silva, CEO of GALP. “We are helping communities not only overcome this crisis but also prepare for future ones.”

The second phase will focus on economic and social recovery. It includes direct financial support for 72 families over 12 months, micro-grants for 38 small businesses – mainly in Alcácer do Sal – and social and psychological assistance for around 80 families, benefiting approximately 300 people.

A multifunctional mobile support unit will also be deployed to provide social services, psychological counselling, basic medical assistance and local coordination.

Portuguese Red Cross president António Saraiva said the partnership would strengthen emergency response while helping communities become more resilient.

“In an emergency, we are where people need us most,” said Saraiva. “This partnership allows us to reinforce our work on the ground while helping communities prepare for the future, always placing human dignity at the centre of our response.”

The programme also includes a prevention and preparedness component, with the creation of mobile community micro-hubs equipped with independent power supplies, lighting and communications systems. Additional resources will include evacuation support trailers, satellite communication units and first aid and psychological first aid training for local communities and schools.

The initiative will run for 12 months and will be monitored through continuous evaluation mechanisms designed to ensure transparency, institutional coordination and measurable results.

Source: Executive Digest, citing joint announcement by Galp Foundation and the Portuguese Red Cross

Natasha Donn

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.