This report is prepared by the Office of the Resident Coordinator and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in collaboration with the agencies, funds and programs of the United Nations System, information from UNETT team member organizations and official information. It covers the period from 01 to 08 November 2023.This version is adapted from the full Situation Report No.01 in Spanish.
HIGHLIGHTS
● Two weeks after Category 5 Hurricane Otis devastated Acapulco, response efforts are still ongoing led by the Government, who has not made an appeal for international assistance.
● An estimated 273,844 houses have suffered damage and 50,000 destroyed, which could represent up to 200,000 people left without a home.
● Before Hurricane Otis, more than 262,000 people lacked access to nutritious food in the municipality of Acapulco (CONEVAL 2023)
● The United Nations System in Mexico is responding in the affected area, within the framework of existing programs and projects in the country, in coordination with the government and local authorities.
● Through the red Unidos por Ellxs, private sector members from Connecting Business Initiative have distributed more than 270 tons of relief items including food, water, hygiene kits and medicine.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
On 25 October, Category 5 Hurricane Otis made landfall over Acapulco in the Mexican Pacific, ravaging the state of Guerrero with heavy rains, strong winds, flooding and landslides.
The National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC) issued an Emergency Declaration for two municipalities in Guerrero - Acapulco de Juarez and Coyuca de Benitez.
According to Mexican authorities, as of 8 November, 47 people were left dead, 32 people are unaccounted for and 3,821 people have been evacuated by commercial airlines.
The CNPC announced the termination of the Emergency Declaration in the municipalities of Acapulco de Juarez and Coyuca de Benitez on 2 November. On the same date, the DOF PE/SPG/322/2023 issued the Natural Disaster Declaration for 47 municipalities in the state. On 3 November, the CNPC requested the rectification of the Declaration, reducing the final number of municipalities with a disaster declaration from 47 to 2 (Acapulco de Juarez and Coyuca de Benitez).
Federal and state authorities are providing humanitarian aid under the command of the Mexican Armed Forces and have launched a reconstruction plan for Acapulco in the amount of approximately US$3.5 million, which includes tax exemptions, economic support and the delivery of household appliances and weekly food baskets, among others.
The Federal Electricity Commission of Mexico reports that 99 per cent of power has been restored to date in Acapulco, and the Ministry of Telecommunications and Transportation reports that 70 per cent of the telephone network has been restored. According to preliminary reports, approximately 273,844 homes have been affected, including 50,000 completely destroyed.
The National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) is coordinating the inter-institutional efforts of the three levels of government and the evaluation of damages and affected areas.
The United Nations System (UN) in Mexico has activated its sectoral system in case of disasters, through the Emergency Technical Team (UNETT) for the analysis and management of emergency information. The day after the hurricane hit, the Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team in Mexico expressed their readiness to support response and recovery efforts. UN agencies, funds and programmes in Mexico have strengthened the work of their offices with government counterparts and partners, within the framework of their existing programmes in the country.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.