Restoration of habitat and home in Rio Pachine

Since happening the earthquake in September 2017, we have seen the authorities absent and his few acts to attend the risk problematic. Thanks to the work of Río Pachiñé reconstruction committee and Nääxwiin, the authorities have approached to verify the earthquake damaged area and see the cracks still latent. It is sad to see the families reality because some families have constructed on land damaged and their houses are presenting cracks already, that provoke more insecurity in the families life. Some people express that they don’t have the authorities support and they would wish be relocated, however, the authorities believes that is necessary a third study that is in process right now.

For Nääxwiin is important to work in a reconstruction integral vision, hence the plan that we have developed:

1- To work the emotional aspect with the affected families that don’t overcome the traumatic stress yet that they lived during earthquake and for the risk situations that they still living because the ground is damaged, that cause cracks in the new constructed houses.  In many times the families don’t want to remember it happened, they express that can’t sleep well in some times and that they feel sadness and worry about the new cracks that appears because the ground trembles still in the zone.  Also, we have identified that many people have suffered pressure for to construct their houses by their families and community. Another problem that we have noted is the conflicts and family violent generated to live many families in a same house for a prolonged time.

Nääxwiin have begun individual psychological therapies starting for an emotional diagnostic to attend the emotional damages. For many Mixe people is difficult attend the aspect psychoemotional because believes that the therapies are only for persons with mental problems.  To attend emotional aspects in Río Pachiñé is a slow process but important, that we will continue strengthening from the training that Fundación Origen will offer to us.

2- The information is a necessity for the community for that they will know risks and can take precautions in raining, earthquake, etc. situations. We have done reunions and informative talks about the neighborhood risks, however, is haven’t enough and we believe necessary to create another form to inform and to create awareness about the ground risks and the organization necessity for to claim the authorities support.

We are creating a brochure that will offer information about how the community was affected after the earthquake occurred in September, 2017. In this brochure will appear the affected houses; the ground situation and how project the community to reconstruct the neighborhood starting for a model house construction; and different actions for economic and social strengthening. 

We are linked with México Une organization for to document and make visible, through a video, the risk situation and permanent damages -like emotional aspects- that neighborhood Los Juanes live in Río Pachiñé. The video is still in construction process and will serve for that authorities see the necessity of a plan integral -like this thought-out by Nääxwiin-for to obtain the community recovery.

3- Nääxwiin is attending some economic necessities of earthquake affected families through direct supports to women dedicated to make corn totopos and that lost his ovens. Other women that we attend is a women artisan group that they lost her tools to make her crafts. Also, we are training a group of women and men for to construct wood saving stoves with the intention to reduce workload because the wood is not possible obtain near the community.

4- The model house construction proposal is going slow because just now the authorities are defining a third ground study for to define if the families will stay in the same ground or will be necessary their relocation. The step that we have done with Río Pachiñé reconstruction committee is known about another constructions experience with adobe and bajareque, like the house constructed by Comité Ixtepecano with Cooperación Comunitaria support.

5- Nääxwiin with Río Pachiñé reconstruction committee are following the management with authorities for that they attend the urgency of ground reconstruction o families relocation. For now, we have had municipals, state, and national authorities answers, who have done two visits and tour for the community and have determined that the neighborhood needs a third study. We are waiting that this study beginning.