Mexican Salvationists respond as country is hit by second disaster

Hurricane Wilma finally moved away from Mexico's Gulf Coast on Sunday after pounding the Yucatan peninsula, killing at least six people and destroying hotels and thousands of homes. However, many roads are still not passable and local airports are closed, creating difficulties for relief teams trying to access the worst hit areas.

Emergency consultant Major Mike Olsen was despatched to the region and arrived in Mexico City in time to assist with The Salvation Army’s relief efforts. An assessment team is flying to Chiapas on the west coast near the Guatemala border. From Chiapas the team will fly to on Merida (Yucatan) and then, if the roads are open, journey on to Can Cun.

This latest disaster has stretched the resources of local Salvation Army personnel who are still serving those impacted by Tropical Storm Stan. They are now into their third week of relief operations in Tapachula, Chiapas, where emergency feeding centres have been established. Majors Luis Flores and Manuel Padilla, along with Captain Jorge Martínez and seven cadets from the Officer Training College, are serving 3,000 people each day, providing meals, food packages and other basic relief items.

Long hours and heavy duties have placed great demands upon the relief team. In addition to practical assistance they have offered counselling to those affected by the tragedy. A new team of volunteers and relief workers is undergoing vaccinations in preparation for deployment later this week.

Seven trailer-loads of food are on the way to the stricken region for distribution by The Salvation Army and five mobile canteens donated by The Salvation Army in Texas are en route to Mexico. They will be dispatched to the disaster areas as soon as they arrive in the country.

International Headquarters has released US$10,000 to assist with relief work, but this latest disaster has made additional demands upon resources and donations to the Latin America Disaster Fund will be gratefully received.