CHURCH WORLD SERVICE EMERGENCY RESPONSE OFFICE
Mexico Volcano
December 21, 2000


SITUATION: Eruption of volcano Popocatepetl, just southeast of Mexico
City, began between 2:00 and 4:00 am on Tuesday. The volcano is stable at
this time, but poses high risk of further eruption. At least 36,000 people
have evacuated the area and 300,000 more could be forced to evacuate if
the volcano becomes again more active. There are currently 56 active
shelters and a projected need for 124 more. Some authorities indicated
that they only had capacity to handle displaced persons for 3 days and
yesterday was the third day. CWS Technical Advisor in Latin America,
Samuel Lobato, also reported that 150 tons of food has been distributed to
evacuees, leaving only 23 tons of food on reserve for this emergency. For
more information on the volcano see www.cenapred.unam.mx


RESPONSE: Samuel Lobato, CWS Latin America Technical Advisor in Mexico,
together with local partners is closely monitoring the condition of the
volcano and resulting developments in the affected region. He has
requested 10,000 sets of facemasks and goggles to protect against volcanic
ash and also specified a need for 1,000 sets of blankets and sleeping mats
for families, which have been evacuated. The cost of this request is
$20,250. CWS is immediately rushing financial assistance to provide
blankets and mattresses. An emergency assistance appeal may be
forthcoming.


Call the CWS HOTLINE for updates: (800) 297-1516, ext. 111.
For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is
responding, contact CWS Emergency Response.

Telephone: (212) 870-3151
After-hours emergency pager: (800) 780-0853
Internet Web Site: http://www.ncccusa.org/CWS/emre
ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org


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: 01/04/01 EST