
Susana Vera / Reuters
Saul Gabarri Valdes, 7, cries amidst the remains of his home after it was demolished at the Spanish gypsy settlement of Puerta de Hierro, on the outskirts of Madrid on Nov. 20.

Susana Vera / Reuters
Carmina Gabarri and her husband Victor Valdes watch as a bulldozer demolishes the small school, where they were living at after their own house was demolished, at the Spanish gypsy settlement of Puerta de Hierro, on the outskirts of Madrid on Nov. 20.
Reuters -- Fifty-four families have been living in the Spanish gypsy settlement of Puerta de Hierro, on the outskirts of Madrid, for over 50 years. Since the summer of 2010, the community on the banks of the Manzanares River has been subject to evictions on the grounds that the dwellings are illegal. Families, whose homes have been demolished, move in with relatives whose houses still remain while the debris keeps piling up around them as more demolitions take place.
Reuters' photographer Susana Vera has been documenting the demolition of homes in Puerta de Hierro. View before and after photos of the homes and read more about the people who live in the settlement.

Susana Vera / Reuters
Teresa Echevarria holds her son Ezequiel next to her daughter Maria, left, as they wait for a bulldozer to demolish two homes on Nov. 20.

Susana Vera / Reuters
Members of the Gabarri-Valdes family distribute their belongings to different cars after a bulldozer demolished their home in the Spanish gypsy settlement of Puerta de Hierro, on the outskirts of Madrid on Nov. 20.

Susana Vera / Reuters
Saray Armendia uses a broom to sweep outside her caravan after a bulldozer demolished the former school, where her in-laws lived at, in the Spanish gypsy settlement of Puerta de Hierro, on the outskirts of Madrid on Nov. 20.


We Jews, Native Americans and Others understand well the blood which spills from the tempered steel of Spains pathetic, outlandish and constant brutal attacks upon the most innocent of peoples. I demand that you cease your destruction or I personally will bring upon you a plauge so potent that it will reach your highest of pitiable towers of satan! I charge you to take these innocents into your churches and heal them. Building codes? These are the inverse of the freedom of mankind to provide themselves and thier loved ones with shelter. You destroy these homes-You remake them them now!
Neil David Bernstein Architect Of The People.
you weirdo what you are a god fearing Warlock MUHAHAHAHA "Plague" "demand" HAHAHAH that they the Spanish Government Do as you request you are a MORON IDIOT FOOL um DOLT comes to the forefront of my being and laughter MUHAHAHAHAHAh such rabble rousing
what a pathetic Loser
Xent if it is the last thing that I do I will see you thrown off of newsvine permanently. Neil has the right to state his opinion without being called childish names. It is people like you who ruin the Internet for the rest of us who just want to be able to debate the issues of the day in an intelligent manner.
Goodness, Spain just did an Israel on these gypsies. Poor folks.
Spaniards are well known to make the worse decisions, they are fake, back stabbers, and in Latin America are still hated. Good thing they are broke economically, ever since they kicked the Jewish population they have not learned to manage money.......
ther is a large distinction here -- the gypsies were not firing rockets into spain. they were peacefully living there. as to israel when you seek to destroy a country, do not expect much sympathy. all modern nations would not look the same had they not somehow defended their land acquired by war. once gotten few nations voluntarily relinquish any land. should one bring up the rite of return , do not forget that jews lived in israel for hundreds of years before the 1st muslim took breath.
DD of AL
The Canaanites --modern day Palestinians lived there before the first Jew took his breath, and don't forget it.
The richness of the Levant and their peoples--the phoenicians and Canaanites are being destroyed by Fairy Tale religions like yours.
As for those rockets--NOTHING compared to what Israel has done to Palestinians for 60+ years--and don't forget that either.
OMFG
If it's the last thing I do, it will be spend someone else's money.
Don't worry Saul! life will bring wonderfull things to you and your family.
It is said, the Creator notices even the fall of a sparrow.Are not sparrows subject at times, to the harshest environments and weather, which nature can dish out? Yet they manage to make it through to spring and create new life.
As one who has done much wandering myself,I do believe and have seen, when a door is shut, a window opens. I pray those who have been forced to move, shall be provided though the care of another ones heart and help.
Now what!? Where are these people going to live as a result!??
Events like this wherever they occur, are indictments against central governments, due to their failures to provide access to opportunities for all of the citizens!! People don't naturally choose shanty-towns when alternative choices are made available!
If they are living there illegally then the government has the right - they had 50 years to try and improve their situation and they did not, probably betting that nothing would happen...you screw with the bull you get the horns...
Help those that have the least, It will please God the most.
this is the crazyest @!$%#
This should teach them gypsies a lesson. Go with a tow behind camper from now on.Atleast it can out run a bull dozer.
The concept would assume a towing vehicle, which seems to be beyond current means. It's not like they're in Arkansas.
So where's the human rights groups? Only when it's the USA or Israel?
Shame Shame Shame On You Spain ! Build alternative Decent housing or settlements for them that you have left homeless, build also a School so that there children can receive Decent education . The Eyes of the World and God is watching You ! Help those who are the Most vulnerable in our society . The Roma.Did they not suffer Enough under Hitler, ? Did we All not ? Do the Decent thing in the Name of God and Help Them. Now !
I saw something simular on tv in England a little while ago. I guess people don't want gypsies around them.
@ pauline lee.... I wonder when the last time these Gypsies paid taxes was. Why should the govt. build anything for them? why should the burden be put on the shoulders of the rest of the country? we have the same problem in this country, except we dont call them "Gypsies".
with all of the vaunted humanitarians of europe it seems to me that they would have found a better solution than this. 50 years to do this?? socialism at it's finest. does this mean that the spainish government will provide the displaced housing?? spain has a large housing crisis any how. so many are loosing homes due to lack of employment. why make the issue so much worse?? good sense is not a strong suit for any government.
Do you know that gypsies will marry their daughers off at 12 or even younger. If you have ever been to Spain and speak the language gypsies are at the back of every scam that goes on. They also take advantage of any and every state provided benefit they can while contributing nada. You really think they claim income???
Relocate them to Israel.
Anyone who has dealt with these neerdowells can have little sympathy for their "plight". It is true, they are a continuing problem wherever they roam. Too bad they did not stay in India where they came from a few centuries back
These folks have nothing but scorn for what much of the world considers civilized behavior, and they see non-Gypsies as little more than "bags of money" and targets for theft. Anyone with half a brain in Europe goes out of their way to stay away from their deft hands. One of their favorite tricks is to work in groups, while a "mother" walks around with a baby in a strap around her shoulders. The baby attracts the "victim" close and the two hands hidden under the baby quickly work on the victim. The baby gives the impression that the hands are occupied...and so one's concern disappears.
These people will not integrate into an even willing society because their one "job" in life is to milk the citizens through scammery and theft. They will not let their children be schooled, because even from their tender years they are busily learning how to operate in packs or alone.
The "monsters" are not the Spanish or French authorities...The "monsters" are the well-trained and dedicated Gypsies (or as they like to call themselves to gain more sympathy...to get into your pockets.."Roma")
If you are in Italy, be VERY careful around these folk..who dress as they did long ago and whose appearance has little changed since they were thrown out of India. They love to hang out in subways, and other crowded places...and wherever tourists bunch together..even churches (they have no respect for any people but their own).
So...be warned. What these people receive from the authorities is generally a lot less than they deserve.