Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Dallas-area sites taking donations to help victims of Mexican disasters

By Marisa Treviño of Latina Lista

Francisco Olvera

Water level has begun to recede in downtown Villahermosa. Now one of the problems that is quickly coming to light is the filth of the streets, homes and buildings left behind by the flood.

Though there are people who unbelievably still contend that global warming is a figment of imagination of the liberal mind, try telling that to the Mexican residents of the states of Tabasco and Chiapas.

Residents there saw a perfect storm (pun intended) consisting of a cold air mass, the area’s rainy season, and a low pressure system collide to produce one of Mexico’s worst natural disasters that left 80% of the state of Tabasco under water and the southern section of Chiapas battling massive mudslides.

Mother carries her newborn through the rancid flood waters of Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico.

Some calling it Mexico’s version of Katrina, the number of people impacted by these disasters is staggering. Officials say that half of the population of the state of Tabasco have been impacted by the floods — 2.1 million.

The New York Times reports that 60,000 to 70,000 people in Tabasco were being housed in shelters, and government officials said some 400,000 people would need some kind of government aid to get back on their feet.

Numerous Chiapas communities, mainly indigenous Indian, have also been affected. Whole communities have either disappeared under tons of mud or been cut off from the rest of the state due to the mudslides triggered by the flooding across state lines in Tabasco.

Finally, the water is beginning to recede. Rescue operations are underway to help those still stranded on their rooftops and clean up efforts have begun to deal with the disease-carrying water left behind, and the retrieval and burial of those who died.

Mexican officials say that the future of the already impoverished state is grim, especially since their agricultural and commercial centers have been decimated. Relief agencies have reported that there is not enough food and there is no medicine.

As a country with limited means to help their citizens, Mexico’s President Calderon has finally issued an international call for help. Its two northern neighbors have each pledged some assistance: Canada has responded by offering 540,000 dollars, and the U.S. has pledged $350,000.

Obviously, not enough to meet the outstanding needs of people who lost everything. That’s why local efforts have begun to start collecting items that these people desperately need.

Three collection sites have been set up around Dallas to gather: clean clothes for both male and female, of any age and size; water purifying drops and eye drops, bottled water, canned goods, powdered milk and chocolate, diapers, feminine hygiene products, bath soap, toilet paper, sugar, detergent, salt, cookies, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, can openers and flashlights. Money will not be collected at these sites.

Since there is such an astronomical need in Tabasco, organizers of the aid campaign plan to operate it until enough donations have been collected to send to the region.

Pegasus News content partner: Latina Lista. You can find the main site for Latina Lista, which includes national news and views, podcasts, the store and more here.

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