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Mexico

Mexico: Floods Emergency Appeal No. MDRMX002

Attachments

GLIDE no. FL-2007-000200-MEX

This Preliminary Emergency Appeal seeks CHF 1,208,000 (USD 1,042,278 or EUR 722,056) in cash, kind, or services to support the Mexican Red Cross in their efforts to deliver assistance to 40,000 beneficiaries for 4 months.

CHF 200,000 (USD 173,563 or EUR 119,546) was allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support this operation. Unearmarked funds to replenish DREF are encouraged.

In solidarity with the Mexican Red Cross (MRC), the International Federation is launching this Emergency Appeal on a preliminary basis to support the MRC's relief response, and to replenish vital emergency stocks to enable an adequate response for future needs.

This operation is expected to be implemented over 4 months, and will therefore be completed by February 2008; a Final Report will be made available by May 2008 (three months after the end of the operation).

The situation

A week of torrential rains provoked by two cold fronts and the effects of Tropical Storm Noel has been causing serious flooding in the state of Tabasco since 28 October. With more than 700 mm of rainfall, levees water levels have exceeded their capacities, and caused the overflow of the Carrizal and Mazcalpa Rivers. This has, in turn, led to the flooding of the Pichucalco and Reforma municipalities in Tabasco State. Flood waters have reached up to 12 meters high. Preliminary reports indicate that the affected zones are the Chontalpa, Centro, Tlacotalpa, Jalapa and Teapa Regions in Sierra, and Cental and Macuspana Regions in Usumacinta.

The Emergency Operative Committee (Comite Operativo de Emergencia - COE) from the state of Tabasco was activated on 27 October. Emergency relief distributions in Villahermosa. Source: Mexican Red Cross. The floods caused by the cold fronts have affected the entire state of Tabasco (estimated total population of 1,989,969 persons). The city of Villahermosa, the capital city of Tabasco, is deeply affected because of the overflowing Grijalva River (especially in the central part of the city). One million people are reportedly affected. The floods have completely destroyed agricultural crops and livestock. 16 of the 17 municipalities in Tabasco have been affected, which translates to some 966 towns in the State. 815 shelters have been opened, currently housing 114,023 people. Out of 5,311 schools in the state, 2,954 are flooded; but 390 of these can and are being used as shelters. The Mexican army is in charge of all shelter operations and is conducting a census. At least 90 per cent of the city of Villahermosa is under water; 80 per cent is without electricity and running water. Electricity and running water have been restored only in areas that were considered safe. Weather forecasts indicate that the rain will persist due to the cold front now in effect.

How we work

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.

The International Federation's activities are aligned with its Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".

Global Agenda Goals:

- Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.

- Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.

- Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.

- Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.

Map: Mexico: Floods - Situation Map

Contact information

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

In Panama: Stephen McAndrew, Head of PADRU, e-mail: Stephen.Mcandrew@ifrc.org; phone (507) 316 1001; Fax (507) 316 1082.

In Mexico: Isaac Oxenhaut Guzco, Relief Director, Mexican Red Cross, e-mail: desastres@cruzrojamexicana.org.mx phone (52)55 36 27 08 94.

In Mexico: Max Romero, Relief Worker, Mexican Red Cross, e-mail: desastres@cruzrojamexicna.org.mx phone (52) 99 331 50 000.

In Panama: José García -Lozano, Head of Zone, Americas, Panama, email: jose.garcialozano@ifrc.org; phone (507) 317 1300; fax (507)317 1304.

In Panama: Maria Alcazar; Zone Relationship Management Coordinator; email: Maria.Alcazar@ifrc.org; phone (507) 317 1300; fax (507)317 1304.

In Panama: Fabricio Lopez, Acting Head of Central America and Mexico Regional Representation, Americas, Panama, email: fabricio.lopez@ifrc.org; phone (507) 317 1300; fax (507)317 1304.

In Geneva: Christine South, Operations Coordinator, e-mail Christine.South@ifrc.org; phone (4122) 730 42 74; Fax (41 22) 733 03 95.