OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Mexico: Tabasco Floods
6 November 2007


This situation report is based on information received from United
Nations Resident Coordinators in country and

HIGHLIGHTS

One million people are affected by the floods in Tabasco and Chiapas.

OCHA is deploying an UNDAC Team to Mexico

SITUATION

1. According to forecasts by the National Meteorological Service (SMN in
Spanish), favorable conditions will prevail over the next 72 hours, with
scarce to light rainfall (less than 10mm) in the Tabasco mountain and
plain regions.

2. The National Water Commission (CAN in Spanish) has reported a general
improvement of the situation, with rivers water levels in Tabasco
receding, reduction in the storage of the Penitas Dam and low tides in
the Gulf of Mexico that has allowed the drainage of waters. Forecasts
indicate that water levels will need at east 15 days to drop to their
normal levels.

3. According to the national press, the President of Mexico, announced
in Villahermosa, the capital of Tabasco, on Monday, 5 November, a fiscal
amnesty for the State to facilitate rehabilitation in the affected areas
and a reconstruction plan for the affected zones, including hydraulic
infrastructures.

4. CNA personnel and the Government of Tabasco have reestablished
partial operations of the water purification plant at Villahermosa which
is now pumping 800 liters per second to the population.

5. The federal Gulf highway, which runs from Villahermosa to Frontera in
Tabasco; Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche and Merida, Yucat=E1n and the highway
from Ciudad de Mexico to Villahermosa is blocked in several points due
to landslides or flooding.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Tabasco

6. The Governor of Tabasco reports that at least 20,000 people continue
to live in their flooded houses despite recommendations issued by
several government entities to leave. One million people are affected by
the floods.

7. According to media reports, thousands of affected people in the
Tabasco area are facing a desperate situation due to a lack of water,
shelter and food, which is causing mass exodus from the city and the
State of Tabasco. There in Tabasco 37,318 people in 276 shelters, Some
10,300 families have been receiving assistance including free medical
assistance.

Chiapas

8. The rains have caused 4 deaths and up to 20,400 people are registered
in 154 shelters. Some 200 landslides have occurred blocking 200 km of
roads. Out of 31 affected municipalities, those of Reforma, Ju=E1rez,
Pichucalco, Sabanilla, Ostuac=E1n and Huituip=E1n, are reporting 4,231 homes
damaged and 2,673 persons sheltered.

9. On 6 November, authorities reported 16 people missing and a score of
injured after a landslide buried a town in the southern Mexican state of
Chiapas, while thousands in neighboring Tabasco were said to be still
awaiting rescue from floodwaters. The landslide destroyed 50 homes in
the town of Juan de Grijalva, a community of some 200 families near the
Tabasco state line.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

10. The President of Mexico announced a fiscal amnesty for Tabasco and a
restructuring plan for affected zones. The Mexican Government has also
announced the creation of an $18.5 million fund for reconstruction in
Tabasco.

11. The Mexican army has 8,000 soldiers on the ground to aid in rescue
and relief efforts, and tons of supplies have poured in from across the
country.

12. According to the Health Department of Mexico DF, an emergency health
program is being implemented to assist the Tabasco population and the
epidemiological surveillance is being strengthened. More than 20,000
doses of vaccines against hepatitis A, rubeola and measles were sent to
the disaster area. The supply of medicine is sufficient to address
diseases in the area. The Secretary of Health underlined that efforts
are being made to guarantee the supply of medicine to attend to common
illnesses in this situation.

13. Healthcare assistance is being provided to persons in shelters to
prevent epidemics' outbreaks. There is also strict vigilance of all food
that is being prepared and provided, and efforts are being made to
promote better waste management.

14. Psychosocial support is also being provided to the shelter
population to promote social cohesion. Alerts were issued to the
population still in their homes regarding the possibility of sewage
contamination in order to reduce the risk of epidemics.

15. According to media reports, some 5,657 medical checkups were
provided in temporary shelters. The Secretary of Health warned of risks
present in Tabasco, such as possible outbreaks of cholera, dengue and
hepatitis. Health brigades were sent to the area and a strict
epidemiological surveillance was begun. It was also reported that a
vaccination campaign will begin to prevent hepatitis B in both states.

16. CENAPRED (Coordination Center for the Prevention of Natural
Disasters in Central America) requested to the National Commission for
Space Activities (CONAE), based in Argentina, to activate the
International Space and Major Catastrophe agreement, in order to receive
updated satellite information.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE LEVEL

17. The Secretary of Foreign Relations of the Government of Mexico has
officially requested the UN Resident Coordinator's support to respond to
the needs of affected populations in Tabasco State.

18. Head of the OCHA Regional Office in Panama is currently in Mexico
City providing support to the UN Resident Coordinator's Office. OCHA is
also deploying an UNDAC Team.

19. Several diplomatic representations and international organizations
have expressed their willingness to send assistance. 20. The Secretary
of Foreign Relations informed that three Mexican consultants and two
officials of the Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance OFDA, in charge
of providing technical assistance and disaster mitigation training, will
conduct an assessment of the situation and will provide recommendations
on shelter administration and actions to pump out accumulated water from
the affected areas.

21. The Pan-American Health Organization mobilized specialists to
administer supplies and medicines received in warehouses. The World Food
Programme sent food supplies and officials to coordinate assistance
efforts.

22. The Government of Cuba offered a brigade of 50 doctors, specialized
in disaster situations, which was accepted by Mexico.

23. The Embassy of the United States in Mexico donated US$300,000 from
the US Government. The Embassy of Canada reported that it will provide
support in cash, although it has not specified the amount, in addition
to technical assistance. The Government of Germany has reportedly sent a
first emergency aid package of 250 thousand euros in response to the
request of President Calderon.

24. Peru has sent a Hercules plane with medicine, supplies and medical
personnel will arrive tomorrow in Tabasco.

25. The British organization Search and Rescue Assistance in Disasters
will also send to Mexico an emergency response team, which includes
experts and 10 inflatable boats.

26. Meanwhile the authorities of Guatemala, Nicaragua, United Kingdom,
Venezuela and Switzerland, Malta, the Los Angeles Mayor's Office,
Doctors Without Borders and the Spanish Cooperation Agency will await
instructions from the Government of Mexico on what type of assistance is
needed.

27. All Mexican Embassies and Consulates around the world have been
requested to open local currency accounts to facilitate donations.

28. The United Nations Resident Coordinator activated the UN Disaster
Management Team (UNDMT) and will meet with the natural disasters focal
point of SRE to establish the official position and actions to follow by
the United Nations regarding the call for international assistance by
President Calderon. The UNETE team will continue preparing situation
reports. Both the ECHO/European Union team and the Embassy of Canada
have contacted the RC office to establish contact and jointly coordinate
efforts.

29. The $1 million pledged by CRS will help its partners Caritas
Mexicana and Caritas Tabasco to provide food, water, blankets and other
basic emergency supplies to thousands of affected families. AmeriCares
is responding to the disaster, as an emergency airlift of essential aid
is already en route to Mexico City. The relief, valued at more than $1.8
million includes antibiotics, anti-fungal, basic medicines, supplies and
blankets.

30. The international network of the Order of Malta and Malteser
International allocated USD 200,000 for the victims of the floods in the
Mexican State of Tabasco.

For detailed information please contact:

Contact Details

Desk Officer (New York)
Mr. Ignacio Leon
Office Tel: +1 917 367-9960
Office Fax: +1 212 963-36 30
E-mail: leoni@un.org

GCMS (Geneva)
Ms. Aoibheann O'Keeffe
Office Tel: +41 22 917 4329
E-mail: okeeffe@un.org

OCHA Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean
Mr. Douglas Reimer
Regional Disaster Response Adviser
Office Tel. +507 317-1748
Office Fax +507 317-1744
Mobile: +507 6676-1689
E-mail: reimer@un.org


Press Contact:

(NYC) Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Office Tel : + 1 917-367-5126
Office Fax: + 1 212-963-1312
Email: bunker@un.org

(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Office Tel + 41 22 917 26 53
Office Fax + 41 22 917 00 20
E-mail: byrs@un.org

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -