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CWS update: Mexico floods
Residents walk on a flooded street in Villahermosa November 1, 2007.
Photo: REUTERS/Odaliz Anaya, courtesy www.alertnet.org
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As thousands begin to emerge from flooded homes and makeshift shelters, the residents of Villahermosa in the state of Tabasco, Mexico, are now threatened by various ailments and there are now fears of a possible cholera outbreak, the Reuters news agency reported.
Estimates of the damage caused by the floods now range at about $655 million. At least three people are reported to have died in the flooding in Villahermosa, which is being called one of the most catastrophic disasters in modern Mexican history. Four additional people were also killed, and 21 remain missing, in a village in neighboring Chiapas state following a mudslide, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times has reported that some environmental activists and opposition politicians are suggesting the current flooding was caused in part by overbuilding, destruction of wetlands and deforestation, and that not enough was done to mitigate against floods following 1999 flooding that killed more than 600 people.
More than 800,000 were initially left homeless in flooding.
RESPONSE: This week, at the request of the Christian Church (Disciples)-Week of Compassion, Church World Service has sent 1,000 lightweight blankets to Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer in Los Fresnos, Texas, which will be transporting the blankets to partner groups in Tabasco for use by flood survivors.
CWS is also responding to this disaster by supporting efforts of its partner agency Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), which has sent initial funding support for its affiliate, Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de Mexico (the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico). The INPM is assisting disaster survivors by providing shelter, meals, water, and basic health services.
Five of the INPM presbyteries are affected by the flooding, and this week the presbytery offices sheltered more than 1,000 people. Many of the state's regular shelters were evacuated after floodwaters overtook them.
The Action by Churches Together (ACT) International Central America Forum is assisting INPM in conducting damage and needs assessments and is also considering further support.
PDA reports there will likely be longer-term needs associated with this disaster response. INPM is currently finishing the long-term recovery plan for response to Hurricane Dean that affected three presbyteries in the Yucatan, prior to this most recent flooding.
A CWS appeal supporting these efforts will be forthcoming.
Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526;
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