A 46-year-old homeless man of Pakistani origin died in Badalona’s Sant Roc neighbourhood on Friday midday. Police confirmed his biological death, with no signs of violence. This marks the sixth fatality among the homeless population in the city this year.
The Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalonia’s police force, confirmed the man’s homelessness and the biological nature of his death. Social services did not know the individual, according to sources from Badalona City Council. The council announced the death via social media, initially without referencing the victim’s homeless status.
Opposition parties have strongly criticised the current administration following the death.
Political Reactions to Death
Guanyem Badalona stated on social media, “It is of vital importance to stop Xavier Garcia Albiol’s policy of death immediately.” Àlex Montornès from Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) added, “A ‘Badalonism’ that dehumanises. Strong with the weak and weak with the strong. I do not recognise this city.”
Aïda Llauradó from the Comuns expressed the party’s condolences for the death. She lamented that the People’s Party (PP) “has not defended any policy to prevent people from sleeping on the street.”
Badalona’s Homelessness Challenge
Badalona, a city in the Barcelonès Nord comarca, is home to over 230,000 residents and faces ongoing challenges with homelessness. The Sant Roc neighbourhood, where the man died, is one of Badalona’s most densely populated areas. The repeated deaths highlight ongoing concerns about social support and housing policies in the city.
Local politicians continue to debate strategies to address the growing issue of homelessness in Badalona.
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Originally published by La Vanguardia Catalonia. Read original article.
