Mexico: Tabasco and Chiapas Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 5

This situation report is based on information received from United Nations Resident Coordinator in country, the UNDAC Team and the OCHA Regional Office in Panama.

HIGHLIGHTS

- Water levels have dropped in the last two days; power has been restored in Villahermosa and food and other essential items are reaching people.

- The UNCT is preparing a Flash Appeal and a CERF, while a six-person UNDAC team was deployed.

SITUATION

1. Heavy rains in Tabasco and Chiapas States amounted to 900 mms in four days, creating havoc and disruption of all infrastructures that were in place to cope with two times its historical maximum. The rains and the drainage of dams were far above three times their historical maximum. In total, the flow was above 5,000 m3 per second in some rivers. There are areas that are still 4 meters below the sea level. It is expected that a cold front will bring further rains of up to 20 mm over the flooded zones and nearby states.

2. Eleven days after the emergency was declared, over 50% of Villa Hermosa city is still under waters as reported by UNDAC. Drainage systems and pumps are working and access is improving in different areas. Water levels have resided in the following quarters: González 1st and 2nd sections, Anacleto Canabal 1st and 2nd sections, Lázaro Cárdenas, 1st and 2nd sections, Plátano y Cacao 1st section and Villa Parrilla y Miguel Hidalgo.

3. UNDP/PLRM reports that most rural communities in the lower areas of Chiapas and in all Tabasco are no longer isolated and water levels are slowly receding. In some rural communities, between 10-20% of each municipality continue to be flooded and some remain isolated.

TABASCO

4. In Tabasco, 2 million inhabitants have been affected by the flood, with nearly 100,000 evacuated from their homes.

5. The Health Secretary (SSA in Spanish) has committed to initiate the process of fumigation to prevent illnesses such as dengue, yellow fever, etc. The situation is under control however the health alert will be enforced two or three months depending on how quickly the waters recede. The damage suffered by the health installations is estimated to be totaling more than US$45 million. According to the Head of the Health Secretary, the most needed items are three animal incinerators to prevent the risk of diseases. A difficult challenge is that people do not want to leave their homes despite not having proper living and sanitation conditions.

6. Education authorities report that more than 1,200 schools are affected in Tabasco. The Ministry of Education highlighted that students in Tabasco will not loose their scholar term. Notwithstanding the delay in school reconstruction, some primary school lectures have already taken place in shelters.

7. Since the water levels have begun to recede, a wider assessment can be done in order to evaluate thedamage. The Mexican Association of Insurance Institutions (AMIS in Spanish) estimated the damages at around US$700 million in Tabasco where almost 20% of the houses are insured.

CHIAPAS

8. Eight persons have been reported dead due to the mudslide that covered the community of Juan de Grijalva in the municipality of Ostuacán. The search for more 21 missing people is still ongoing while 50 houses were affected.

9. UNDP/PLRM reports heavy damages due to landslides and over flooding rivers in certain communities. Most of these communities are isolated and have been receiving humanitarian assistance through helicopters. According to State Authorities, there are 31 municipalities affected and 2,928 people are living in 30 temporary shelters. Damage assessments cannot yet be undertaken in view of the flooding.

10. In the municipality of Berriozábal, some 238 families from 20 communities are still in shelters but demand to be relocated given the risk of potential landslides. Some 120 families refuse to leave their homes in the mountains. The Army and the Civil Protection agency are providing them with humanitarian assistance while encouraging them to leave.

11. In the northern region of Chiapas, particularly in the municipalities of Huitupan, Simojovel and El Bosque, UNDP/PLRM reports that in ten evaluated communities, 1,587 families require humanitarian assistance, mainly food for 3 days. Damage can be observed in houses, freeways, water infrastructure and electricity in 129 communities from 34 municipalities, particularly in Juárez, Pichucalco, Sabanilla, Ostuacán and Huitupán. Two schools and one hospital were completely destroyed.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

12. The Government response includes the deployment of 8,000 soldiers, 3,000 marines and over 2,000 policemen to affected areas. In addition, trucks were provided for relief distribution. Priority was given to search and rescue supplemented in some cases by helicopters dropping to isolated persons. Helicopters have been making on average 4 to 5 missions per day. There is enough airlift capacity. The air force operating from Villa Hermosa airport is as follows: 1 MI8 8 Mt capacity 7 MI 17 8 Mt capacity 3 CH 53 10-12 Mt capacity 4 PUMA 2-3 Mt capacity In addition, one CESSNA 182 has been used for reconnaissance missions. The navy provided three MI8 and the police provided smaller helicopters. Three C130 and one B 727 are operating the airlift between Mexico City and Villa Hermosa.

13. The Federal Government has sent a large list of needs (health, food, water and sanitation). These requirements are being revised, considering that flood victims of both States count for around 1 million and will require food and other kind of assistance for at least one month more.

14. Mexico’s President Felipe Calderón announced a US$ 650 million federal fund for reconstruction as well a tax payment delay for residents and businesses until June 2008. Contact has been made with the private sector and several foundations for assistance. Official institutions have encouraged the private sector and the civil society to continue their aid since provisions available are running out rapidly.

15. National authorities are providing economic support for people who lost their employment in Tabasco for three months. The Secretary of Economy indicated that a census of the affected private firms will be implemented. This process will allow estimating more accurately the damage of the production capabilities of Tabasco. This census is will be available in four to six weeks.

16. In Ostuacan, Chiapas, to respond to the mudslide, 14 helicopters have participated in aerial assessments, 12 aerial routes have been established for 28 communities for the municipalities of Sabanilla, Pantepec, Tapilula, Huitiupan, Simojovel, Ixhuatan, Solossuchiapan, Ocotepec, Tapalapa and Juarez. A total of 1859 food kits, 550 blankets and 550 quilts have been distributed. The Government is running 54 health centers and deployed 18 health brigades. The business community has established a coordinated front “Junto por Ellos” to raise and coordinate the private sector’s support.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

17. In response to the call of the President, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has sent to the United Nations Organization an official request of international assistance to support the national efforts to face the emergency situation in Tabasco and Chiapas.

18. Several UN missions arrived from specialized agencies such as OCHA, UNDAC (United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination), and BCPRUNDP (Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery from United Nations Development Programme) to support in the coordination of the international aid, along with Mexican authorities, international organizations and civil society. Two offices, a temporary presence in Paraiso, Tabasco, and another in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas (where other UNDP projects are being implemented) have been established.

19. In addition, WFP, UNICEF, IOM, PAHO/WHO, UNDP, UNFPA are mobilizing emergency resources for humanitarian assistance. The UNCT is preparing a Flash Appeal and a CERF request.

20. Diplomatic representations of Mexico worldwide are opening bank accounts to provide support to Tabasco and Chiapas with a total number of 53 banks accounts created.

21. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society has launched an emergency appeal for US$ 1.04 million to support the Mexican Red Cross relief operation covering 40,000 people. The funds will be used to provide food as well as relief items (including hygiene kits, kitchen kits, mosquito nets, home cleaning kits, and other nonfood items) over the next four months.