OCHA Situation Report No. 5
Mexico: Tabasco Floods
11 November 2007


This situation report is based on information received from United
Nations Resident Coordinator in country, the UNDAC Team and the OCHA
Regional Office in Panama.

HIGHLIGHTS

- Water levels have dropped in the last two days; power has been
restored in Villahermosa and food and other essential items are reaching
people.

- The UNCT is preparing a Flash Appeal and a CERF, while a six-person
UNDAC team was deployed.


SITUATION

1. Heavy rains in Tabasco and Chiapas States amounted to 900 mms in four
days, creating havoc and disruption of all infrastructures that were in
place to cope with two times its historical maximum. The rains and the
drainage of dams were far above three times their historical maximum. In
total, the flow was above 5,000 m3 per second in some rivers. There are
areas that are still 4 meters below the sea level. It is expected that a
cold front will bring further rains of up to 20 mm over the flooded
zones and nearby states.

2. Eleven days after the emergency was declared, over 50% of Villa
Hermosa city is still under waters as reported by UNDAC. Drainage
systems and pumps are working and access is improving in different
areas. Water levels have resided in the following quarters: Gonz=E1lez 1st
and 2nd sections, Anacleto Canabal 1st and 2nd sections, L=E1zaro
C=E1rdenas, 1st and 2nd sections, Pl=E1tano y Cacao 1st section and Villa
Parrilla y Miguel Hidalgo.

3. UNDP/PLRM reports that most rural communities in the lower areas of
Chiapas and in all Tabasco are no longer isolated and water levels are
slowly receding. In some rural communities, between 10-20% of each
municipality continue to be flooded and some remain isolated.

TABASCO

4. In Tabasco, 2 million inhabitants have been affected by the flood,
with nearly 100,000 evacuated from their homes.

5. The Health Secretary (SSA in Spanish) has committed to initiate the
process of fumigation to prevent illnesses such as dengue, yellow fever,
etc. The situation is under control however the health alert will be
enforced two or three months depending on how quickly the waters recede.
The damage suffered by the health installations is estimated to be
totaling more than US$45 million. According to the Head of the Health
Secretary, the most needed items are three animal incinerators to
prevent the risk of diseases. A difficult challenge is that people do
not want to leave their homes despite not having proper living and
sanitation conditions.

6. Education authorities report that more than 1,200 schools are
affected in Tabasco. The Ministry of Education highlighted that students
in Tabasco will not loose their scholar term. Notwithstanding the delay
in school reconstruction, some primary school lectures have already
taken place in shelters.

7. Since the water levels have begun to recede, a wider assessment can
be done in order to evaluate thedamage. The Mexican Association of
Insurance Institutions (AMIS in Spanish) estimated the damages at around
US$700 million in Tabasco where almost 20% of the houses are insured.

CHIAPAS

8. Eight persons have been reported dead due to the mudslide that
covered the community of Juan de Grijalva in the municipality of
Ostuac=E1n. The search for more 21 missing people is still ongoing while
50 houses were affected.

9. UNDP/PLRM reports heavy damages due to landslides and over flooding
rivers in certain communities. Most of these communities are isolated
and have been receiving humanitarian assistance through helicopters.
According to State Authorities, there are 31 municipalities affected and
2,928 people are living in 30 temporary shelters. Damage assessments
cannot yet be undertaken in view of the flooding.

10. In the municipality of Berrioz=E1bal, some 238 families from 20
communities are still in shelters but demand to be relocated given the
risk of potential landslides. Some 120 families refuse to leave their
homes in the mountains. The Army and the Civil Protection agency are
providing them with humanitarian assistance while encouraging them to
leave.

11. In the northern region of Chiapas, particularly in the
municipalities of Huitupan, Simojovel and El Bosque, UNDP/PLRM reports
that in ten evaluated communities, 1,587 families require humanitarian
assistance, mainly food for 3 days. Damage can be observed in houses,
freeways, water infrastructure and electricity in 129 communities from
34 municipalities, particularly in Ju=E1rez, Pichucalco, Sabanilla,
Ostuac=E1n and Huitup=E1n. Two schools and one hospital were completely
destroyed.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

12. The Government response includes the deployment of 8,000 soldiers,
3,000 marines and over 2,000 policemen to affected areas. In addition,
trucks were provided for relief distribution. Priority was given to
search and rescue supplemented in some cases by helicopters dropping to
isolated persons. Helicopters have been making on average 4 to 5
missions per day. There is enough airlift capacity. The air force
operating from Villa Hermosa airport is as follows: 1 MI8 8 Mt capacity
7 MI 17 8 Mt capacity 3 CH 53 10-12 Mt capacity 4 PUMA 2-3 Mt capacity
In addition, one CESSNA 182 has been used for reconnaissance missions.
The navy provided three MI8 and the police provided smaller helicopters.
Three C130 and one B 727 are operating the airlift between Mexico City
and Villa Hermosa.

13. The Federal Government has sent a large list of needs (health, food,
water and sanitation). These requirements are being revised, considering
that flood victims of both States count for around 1 million and will
require food and other kind of assistance for at least one month more.

14. Mexico's President Felipe Calderon announced a US$ 650 million
federal fund for reconstruction as well a tax payment delay for
residents and businesses until June 2008. Contact has been made with the
private sector and several foundations for assistance. Official
institutions have encouraged the private sector and the civil society to
continue their aid since provisions available are running out rapidly.

15. National authorities are providing economic support for people who
lost their employment in Tabasco for three months. The Secretary of
Economy indicated that a census of the affected private firms will be
implemented. This process will allow estimating more accurately the
damage of the production capabilities of Tabasco. This census is will be
available in four to six weeks.

16. In Ostuacan, Chiapas, to respond to the mudslide, 14 helicopters
have participated in aerial assessments, 12 aerial routes have been
established for 28 communities for the municipalities of Sabanilla,
Pantepec, Tapilula, Huitiupan, Simojovel, Ixhuatan, Solossuchiapan,
Ocotepec, Tapalapa and Juarez. A total of 1859 food kits, 550 blankets
and 550 quilts have been distributed. The Government is running 54
health centers and deployed 18 health brigades. The business community
has established a coordinated front "Junto por Ellos" to raise and
coordinate the private sector's support.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

17. In response to the call of the President, the Foreign Affairs
Ministry has sent to the United Nations Organization an official request
of international assistance to support the national efforts to face the
emergency situation in Tabasco and Chiapas.

18. Several UN missions arrived from specialized agencies such as OCHA,
UNDAC (United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination), and
BCPRUNDP (Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery from United Nations
Development Programme) to support in the coordination of the
international aid, along with Mexican authorities, international
organizations and civil society. Two offices, a temporary presence in
Paraiso, Tabasco, and another in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas
(where other UNDP projects are being implemented) have been established.

19. In addition, WFP, UNICEF, IOM, PAHO/WHO, UNDP, UNFPA are mobilizing
emergency resources for humanitarian assistance. The UNCT is preparing a
Flash Appeal and a CERF request.

20. Diplomatic representations of Mexico worldwide are opening bank
accounts to provide support to Tabasco and Chiapas with a total number
of 53 banks accounts created.

21. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Society has launched an emergency appeal for US$ 1.04 million to support
the Mexican Red Cross relief operation covering 40,000 people. The funds
will be used to provide food as well as relief items (including hygiene
kits, kitchen kits, mosquito nets, home cleaning kits, and other nonfood
items) over the next four months.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=B85489D4B9D87285C125738F007EA7A7&file=Full_Report.pdf

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