 |
|
|
 News Around the Republic of Mexico | October 2005 
US2.3 Billion to be Spent on Recovery
 EFE/El Universal
| | An aerial shot of Motozintla, Chiapas, is seen on Monday where 31 of the town's 36 neighborhoods have been covered by mud (Poto: El Universal) |
The federal government said that it anticipates spending as much as US2.3 billion on the recovery from Hurricane Stan, which is blamed for at least 27 deaths nationwide and has forced more than 100,000 people into shelters.
The price tag for the recovery effort was cited by Interior Secretary Carlos Abascal, who was named by President Vicente Fox to head a Cabinet task force in charge of the cleanup.
Abascal said that after a week of rain following Stan's impact, the states of Veracruz, Hidalgo, Guerrero and Oaxaca "have full communication and electric power has been reestablished in 99 percent" of the region.
He added that 42 helicopters have been allocated to carry aid to the country's most remote communities and that two navy ships are transporting supplies from the Pacific resort of Acapulco to the states of Guerrero and Chiapas.
Abascal said that in Chiapas, which suffered the most damage, difficulties persist "because the level of the rivers has not come down."
According to data provided by the Chiapas state government, the storm killed 15 people there, damaged 590 communities and forced 100,000 refugees into shelters, while residents in two areas, Costa and Soconusco, were complaining Monday of price gouging by local shopkeepers.
The reports of dead could rise, given that an unknown number of people are missing. In the community of Belisario Domínguez, residents describe houses being swept away by torrential rains, with the inhabitants trapped inside.
"The government has abandoned us in the midst of chaos, without food, water or medical attention," said Francisco Antonio Ramos González, a resident of the town of Motozintla who traveled to the state capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez in search of help. "Nothing has arrived to our town."
In the area of Motozintla, there are more than 18,000 refugees housed in 70 shelters.
However, no high-level government official has visited them, and they are only served one meal a day. Ramos González said, "food supplies are scarce and won't last much longer. We are asking for society and the government to send us help."
While some officials stated that trucks arrived Sunday with food supplies, Ramos González said the town received nothing. On Monday, the two roads accessing the community were still blocked by mudslides.
Furthermore, Ramos González reported that skin and respiratory illnesses are beginning to appear among the children and elderly in the shelters.
In Oaxaca, another state that was heavily hit by the storm, six people are known to have died and 15,000 have had to leave their homes.
Following President Fox's visit on Monday, the Oaxaca state government lifted the state of emergency.
"The danger has passed," said Oaxaca Emergency Services head Hector González. However, emergency supplies are still being distributed by boat and by helicopter.
"Now is the stage of damage assessment and the rebuilding of rural roads, highways, and houses," said González.
A quarantine of flooded towns will stay in effect to avoid the spread of diarrhea, dengue, pink eye and malaria, which have high incidence rates on the isthmus of Oaxaca.
In Veracruz, where Stan made landfall six days ago, civil defense officials reported that six people were killed and 12 others remained hospitalized with storm-related injuries. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us