Mexico’s Gulf and Pacific coasts have been hit by two tropical storms, Ingrid and Manuel, which damaged 1.5 million homes in 22 out of 32 states, flooded cities and washed out roads. Preliminary numbers estimate that 1.2 million people have been affected, of which 200,000 are in the state of Guerrero. There are at least 110 confirmed deaths. Search and Rescue workers continue to search for survivors.
For communities living in poverty in the mountainous region of Guerrero State, Mexico, the recent double hurricanes have also had a disastrous impact on their lives and livelihoods. High winds and intense rainfall have destroyed homes, swept away bridges and led to major flood damage. World Renew is responding.
Mexico’s Gulf and Pacific coasts have been hit by two tropical storms, Ingrid and Manuel, which damaged 1.5 million homes in 22 out of 32 states, flooded cities and washed out roads. Preliminary numbers estimate that 1.2 million people have been affected, of which 200,000 are in the state of Guerrero. There are at least 110 confirmed deaths. Search and Rescue workers continue to search for survivors.
For communities living in poverty in the mountainous region of Guerrero State, Mexico, the recent double hurricanes have also had a disastrous impact on their lives and livelihoods. High winds and intense rainfall have destroyed homes, swept away bridges and led to major flood damage. World Renew is responding.
World Renew has a history of ministry in Mexico dating back to the late 1960’s. One of World Renew’s former community development partners is a local organization called AMEXTRA, which works in many areas of Mexico including Tlapa, Guerrero – one of the regions most affected by the storms.
“The Mountains of Guerrero have an indigenous population which is being ignored by other aid groups and the government due to geographic, social, and road conditions as well as a lack of media focus,” said Eugenio Araiza Bahena, General Director of AMEXTRA.
Because this area has been hard-hit by the storm, is underserved by other groups, and has a history of AMEXTRA programs, World Renew will focus its attention there.
“We have begun to put together the first food relief,” said Eugenio Araiza Bahena, explaining that the severe damage has made it difficult to reach isolated communities. “God willing, we will visit Tlapa, Guerrero soon to better structure our intervention.”
World Renew and AMEXTRA’s response will include the distribution of food packages, bedding and medical aid such as anti-parasite medicine to help families make it through the initial period of displacement. Later, they will be involved in rebuilding homes that were destroyed by the storms, and restarting livelihoods through the provision of tools, business supplies, seeds, fruit trees and livestock. Their response might also include training for small businesses, access to safe drinking water, and programs to help the community better prepare for and mitigate the impacts of future disasters.
By working closely with the local community to assess the damage and develop an appropriate response, World Renew and AMEXTRA will provide much-needed assistance to families unable to recover from the disaster on their own.
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