wfn.org | Mexico: ADRA Delivers Aid to Stranded Flood Victims

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

September 16, 1998
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
98/SEPT/02

ADRA DELIVERS FOOD, CLOTHING TO STRANDED FLOOD VICTIMS 
IN MEXICO 

Colonial Narvate, Mexico, 16.09.1998  [APD/ADRA] As heavy 
rains continue to fall in the south Mexican state of Chiapas, 
causing the worst widespread flooding in 40 years and 
affecting more than half a million people, the Adventist 
Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is joining disaster 
response efforts by providing food and other resources to 
the state’s hardest hit areas, assisting hundreds of storm 
victims.

With the help of 340 volunteers, ADRA just completed its 
first phase of assistance after providing three meals per day 
during the past week to more than 800 people in various 
shelters and affected areas of Chiapas. 

Through the assistance of the Mexican military, ADRA is 
airlifting donated food baskets to stranded flood areas. On 
Friday, more than 550 food baskets and nine bales of 
clothing were delivered to the suffering townspeople of 
Jaltenango and Tonalá. On Sunday and Monday, ADRA sent 
more than 1,000 baskets and seven bales of clothing to 
several other affected cities.

Montemorelos University joined ADRA’s 
assistance on Sunday by gathering food, water, medical 
supplies, and other goods. The university is also providing 
additional monetary assistance, medical supplies, clothing 
and shoes to be given to victims in the isolated town of 
Tapachula.

"ADRA has earned a very good reputation in this country 
over the years," says Rafael Garcia, ADRA Mexico director, 
"which is the reason that the leaders and citizens of Chiapas 
have fully entrusted ADRA with the distribution of 
desperately needed relief materials."

More than 100 communities have been swept away and 
hundreds of families are practically living on the streets, in 
churches, shelters, or houses under very poor conditions. As 
torrential rains continue to fall, the damage already done by 
severe flooding worsens.

At least 500 more baskets are being prepared by ADRA 
volunteers in Tapachula for isolated communities in the town 
of Independencia, where there are more than 1,200 people 
severely affected by the flooding, and other areas along the 
coast. Each food basket contains items such as beans, rice, 
milk, cooking oil, pasta and corn flower.

"In one isolated community, where 54 families were left 
homeless, we had to deliver 100 food baskets over the wild 
waters of a river by using a long tree branch to reach to the 
other side!" says Garcia. "ADRA volunteers even had to walk 
four hours to reach some communities. The needs here are 
enormous."

Further assistance is being planned based on damage 
assessments. ADRA volunteers are working together with the 
local government and national army to provide vehicles for 
the delivery of additional food baskets and clothing as soon 
as the flood waters recede and roads are reopened to 
circulation. 

ADRA assistance is being funded by ADRA Mexico, ADRA 
Inter-American Division, ADRA Central Office, and ADRA Canada. 
ADRA also received food and humanitarian relief items, 
including food, from The Mercedes-Benz company and 
several other companies who are interested in helping the 
suffering people of Chiapas.