Mexico - Earthquake OCHA Situation Report No. 3

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2003/0022
OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Mexico - Earthquake
28 January 2003

Situation

1. Following the earthquake of 21 January, the Government declared a state of emergency in six municipalities in the state of Colima on 22 January. On 24 January, the state of emergency has been extended to 10 municipalities, namely Armeria, Colima city, Coquimatlan, Ixtlahuacan, Ticoman, Villa de Alvarez, Comala, Cuahutémoc, Manzanillo and Minatitlan. On 24 January, the municipalities of Zapotitlan de Vadillo, Toliman, Tonila and Pihuamo in the State of Jalisco were added in the declaration.

2. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), in the state of Colima, approximately 8,820 houses were damaged (2,005 were destroyed, 3,400 were partially destroyed and 3,415 incurred minor damages). The most affected city is Villa de Alvarez in the vicinity of Colima city, where 10 per cent of homes were destroyed or damaged.

National Response

3. The Government continues providing relief assistance to those affected. The Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations are collaborating with these efforts.

4. According to WHO/PAHO (Pan American Health Organization), the Health Emergency Operations Center has been activated in Colima and is coordinating the deployment of teams to provide medical attention and control disease. A daily consolidated reporting system on the health situation has also been established. Two health specialists from PAHO are working with the Secretary of Health in Colima.

5. The Government of Mexico has not requested international assistance. However, contributions toward this emergency situation are welcome. A bank account has been provided by the national authorities as follows:

Name: Gobierno del Estado de Colima
Account number: 00437016984
Bank name: BANORTE
ABA: MENOMXMT

International Assistance

6. Japan has contributed relief supplies, such as tents, sleeping mats, blankets, power generators, tools, worth of USD 98,887 (JPY 12,000,000). OCHA has released an emergency cash grant of USD 15,000, as well as an emergency cash grant of USD 15,000 from the Dutch Grant Reserve, administered by OCHA.

7. OCHA has been in close contact with United Nations Resident Coordinator in Mexico City and the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations in Geneva.

8. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva, as indicated below, on relief missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding values by item.

9. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
Mr. Erik Haegglund, Ms. Masayo Kondo, Mr. Ricardo Mena
Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3299 / 1997 / 1455

Press contact:
(GVA) - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
(N.Y.) - Mr. Brian Grogan, direct Tel. +1-212-963 11 43