Reactivation at Oaxaca after hurricane Agatha

Huracan Agatha affected Oaxaca’s coast deeply. Many communities were isolated because the flood destroyed roads. We decided to visit Piedra Hueca and BAjos de Coyula, two communities with which UMPO has a collaborative friendship from past projects, so we were aware of the needs in the territory even though the villages didn’t have electricity for more than one month. 

The communities were lack of food, and the flood took away their crops, including coffee crops which are their primary income source and economical activity. In the beginning, they received some humanitarian help by helicopter, but just once, a month later they were out of options and roads were still not available to cross by car. UMPO team accompanied other organization's collaborators, together we delivered complete food pantries, which included beans, rice, sugar, corn flour for making tortillas, and soap for self-hygiene. 

In Piedra Hueca 40 persons received the food pantries, while in Bajos de Coyula there were 50. A total of 281 persons benefited from this delivery. We found out very important that all the food which they asked for is culturally adequate, part of their common diet, and it was considered that they have a spring water source, so they could prepare this kind of food. Both communities lack many basic needs, many families have disappeared and complete houses were dragged by the water current. 

What's next for these communities? Is something we are really worried about, we gathered some information about the affectations on both villages, but is hard to establish an intervention that could make a difference in the short term, it seems that it will be necessary to get large-term projects for reconstructing the roads, for making accessible the pass through them. Also, it's truly important to find a way for getting new economical activities while the crops grow again. It will take at least 7 years, to regenerate the ground and the crops. 

Thank you a lot for making possible this fast response to the tragic event that affected Oaxaca’s coast, getting food was the first step but we hope that the region recovers entirely very soon.