Habitat for Humanity: Mexico Earthquake response

Introduction

On September 19, 2017, an earthquake of magnitude 7.1 Richter scale occurred with an epicenter in the southeast of Axochiapan, Morelos at 1:14:40 hrs. It was located in the state boundary between the states of Puebla and Morelos, leaving serious damages in the states of Morelos, Puebla, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Veracruz and Mexico City (UN Mexico).

This geographical area is located in a region with high seismic activity, which according to data from the National Seismological Service has increased its frequency in recent years. Particularly in Mexico, vulnerability to seismic events is exacerbated not only by intensity and frequency; but also by the degree of social deprivation that prevails in a large part of the population, which represents greater risk during these events.

In these circumstances, Habitat for Humanity Mexico (HFHM) as an association that promotes housing as an important human right, launches the Reconstruction Program of 1,446 homes in the states of Oaxaca, Chiapas, Puebla, Morelos, and Mexico City. Through this program, more than 45,000 direct and indirect jobs were generated in the affected communities. The main purpose was to get 4,300 people to recover their homes, in addition to promoting a sense of belonging by strengthening the social fabric within the communities.

Goal

A Housing comprehensive reconstruction in the Zona Frailesca and the Central Zone of Chiapas affected by earthquakes, through a recovery process to build resilient communities, strengthening community capacities for coordination, planning, management, and monitoring of the earthquakes recovery process.

Objectives

• Provide a habitable and durable dwellingto families affected by the earthquakes, providing advice and technical constructive supervision during the process.
• Strengthen local organizational capacitiesthrough a process of social and educational participation with families affected, in order to organize the reconstruction of housing.

Lessons Learned

• The work experience allows us to conclude that the design and application of joint work models between and with the beneficiaries is the best way to take advantage of their knowledge and skills. In addition to recognizing the desire of some of them to participate, learn and collaborate in the project, beyond just being recipients of aid.

• Great learning is planning. We must consider several scenarios (most adverse) and elucidate possible solutions to minimize the impact on delays, both in the constructive part and in the organizational part with the families.

• In processes of reconstruction, empathy is fundamental, because it helps to recognize the families' needs and generates a more effective communication between them and us, which will be reflected in a more effective support.

• It is necessary to promote and maintain greater contact and control with suppliers, innovating in forms of collaboration, monitoring, control, and production of the elements that we provide to the beneficiaries.

• Promote greater integration and collaboration among the beneficiaries, their master builders and our technical team, for better quality in their houses, and thus take advantage of the experience of master masons.

• Look for an approach with each of the families according to their situation: context, level of affectation, family and economic situation. Also, propose various schedules that address possible delays or difficulties.

• Understand that families can show or manifest needs that for our vision are not a priority and, nevertheless, express understanding and support for them.

• To consider important a broad technical participation and a humble and compassionate look for facing disasters, in particular, to adapt to the cultural context and thus be able to share the necessary architectural knowledge to correct future errors.

• Final Report (PDF)
  

General objective

• A comprehensive reconstruction of homes in Zona Frailesca and the Central Zone of Chiapas, affected by earthquakes. This work will be supported through a recovery process to build resilient communities, strengthening of capacities for coordination, planning, management, and monitoring of the recovery process.

 Specific Objectives

•  Provide habitable and durable housing to families affected by the earthquake, providing advice and constructive technical supervision during the process
• Strengthen local organizational capacities through the process of social and educational participation with the affected families, in order to assure the reconstruction of the houses in the places affected.

ACTIVITIES CARRY OUT DURING THE PERIOD REPORTED

Objective 1: 100 families were selected and located in the following municipalities and localities:

• Cintalapa - 14

• Emiliano Zapata- 7

• Jiquipilas - 14

• Miguel Hidalgo - 1

• Espinal de Morelos - 17

• Benito Juárez - 11

• Colonia Juan Pablo - 1

• Cristobal Obregon - 1

• Cuahutemoc - 6

• Jesús María Garza - 16

• Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez - 1

• Melchor Ocampo - 1

• Nuevo México - 1

• Tierra y Libertad - 1

• Villaflores - 8

Objective 2: Social Intervention - Organization and Workshops

The comprehensive intervention methodology incorporated as a fundamental basis the organization of the beneficiaries in mutual aid committees, in 9 committees in all the communities, with the objective of encouraging community participation and mobilizing it in favor of themselves, that is to say helping to walk towards a community resilience, collective condition to overcome disasters and massive situations of adversity and the capacity to build on them. This confirms that facing a disaster, some communities fall into despondency and desperation, while others fight adversity and overcome difficulties. Some of the activities that were carried out was a workshop of application of flattening of walls in the houses.

The workshops given to affected families have the objective of promoting the interest and learning of skills that facilitate the resilient development of people for the prevention of situations that can lead to critical moments in life, through awareness, recognition, empowerment, valuation and use of our personal skills and resources.

Strengthening the abilities of the people, so that they do not lose the sense of relevance and help themselves in vulnerable situations, learn to resolve conflicts and organize as a community and be able to help each other.

Objective 3: Construction Technical Advice

The technical assistance works have been activated in all actions. 

Assessment, surveys application and identification of needs - 100

Architectural proposal

 -  Participatory Design - 100

-   Budget - 100

-  Labor program - 80

Self-construction and Housing Supervision - 80

-  Logistic organization with the community for the delivery of construction materials

- Advice on costs of materials and labor

-  Construction monitoring and supervision

Labor Closure (finished housing) - 60

Objective 4: Architectural Proposals

The architectural proposals have been made according to the needs of each family, considering the resources of materials and labor that the family can provide. For now, a total of 100 architectural proposals have been made.

 Objective 5: Self-Construction and Housing Supervision

The self-construction processes carried out are advised by the Architects and through the community organization, the Social Promoter carries out mutual assistance activities. There have been 5 mutual aid activities in 4 Municipalities where the Committee defines which family will receive the support as a priority. Currently, 60 homes have been completed, the rest are under construction. 

• Mexico Earthquake Full Report (PDF)