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Mexico

Mexico Earthquake Humanitarian Situation Report No. 11 - 28 February 2018

Attachments

Highlights

  • On 16 February another earthquake (magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale) hit Mexico, with epicentre in Pinotepa, Oaxaca at 17:39. Up to 19 February, this earthquake had one replica above 6 and 2,140 below that magnitude. (Source: http://www.ssn.unam.mx/sismicidad/reportes-especiales/)

  • On 18 February, 38 municipalities in Oaxaca were declared in a state of emergency, after the National Emergency Committee was installed and the Plan MX activated. Response protocols from the government were also activated and the armed forces were deployed to support damage evaluation activities. The Ministry of Education reports no schools damaged. Still, the Government of Oaxaca decided to suspend classes on Monday 19 February as a precautionary measure. UNICEF deployed a rapid assessment team on 21-22 February, visiting 3 affected municipalities. It is unlikely that UNICEF will intervene in these newly affected areas.

  • After one month implementing the Early Recovery Plan to respond to the September 2017 earthquakes, which includes actions on Education, Child Protection, Social Inclusion, Health and Nutrition, and WASH, activities are operating smoothly. There are 21 child friendly spaces still open and the number of tents for temporary learning spaces delivered has increased to 514, reaching 20,560 children. Also the WASH assessment needs was finished, and activities are ongoing in Puebla and Morelos.

Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs

Oaxaca

  • After the 16 February earthquake, UNICEF deployed a rapid assessment team on 21-22 February, visiting 3 affected municipalities. No damages were identified in terms of WASH or health centres. Some schools and households present damages, and the population reports psychoemotional effects on children. No child fatalities have been reported due to the earthquake. Still, 3 children died and 7 were wounded after the Governor´s helicopter crashed when travelling to assess the situation in the area. It is unlikely that UNICEF will intervene in these newly affected areas.

Morelos

  • UNICEF staff visited 11 schools where temporary learning spaces (TLS) are needed (12-13 February) in order to identify WASH needs in those places where the TLS will be installed. Activities include hardware (infrastructure) and software (promotion of habits) actions on WASH, in partnership with the NGO SARAR. The tentative number of tents required in these schools is 43.