Rotary clubs in District 4200 respond to devastating floods in Mexico
By Ryan Hyland
Rotary International News - 20 November 2007
Rotary clubs in District 4200 are helping communities in Tabasco, Mexico, recover after devastating floods in late October.
Rotary clubs in District 4200 (Mexico) are asking Rotarians worldwide to help them provide relief for thousands of people in Mexico left homeless by devastating floods caused by Tropical Storm Noel in late October. Please contact the Rotarians listed below for information on how to donate.
Local Rotarians have sent small boats stocked with bags of food to flooded areas in the states of Chiapas and Tabasco. They also set up a relief center to receive truckloads of blankets, clothes, food, and water.
Now, local Rotarians are asking for help to provide additional clothing, food, household items, and shelter. Clubs in District 4200 are also working on a long-term plan to rebuild homes and establish a water treatment plant.
Approximately 80 percent of the state of Tabasco is still under water, increasing the risk of waterborne disease. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that the storm destroyed all crops and livestock. In addition, more than 1,000 schools and 100 medical centers sustained extensive damage.
"The situation here is terrible and getting worse," says Assistant District Governor Josephina Toledo Farrera. "Rotarians are helping out in any way they can, but reconstruction is going to be slow. We need help to restart lives."
To contribute, please contact District 4200 Governor Rodolfo Burguete Martínez or Assistant Governor Josefina Toledo Farrera.