FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

11/6/2007

Press Contacts: Nasserie Carew (202-667-8227 x561 or ncarew@interaction.org)

NGO Contacts: Jim Bishop (202-667-8227 x524 or jbishop@interaction.org) Elizabeth Bellardo (202-667-8227 x566 or ebellardo@interaction.org)

InterAction Members Respond to the Floods in Mexico

In what has been called one of the worst disasters in Mexico's history, heavy rains since the 28th of October and subsequent flooding has affected over a million people in the states of Tabasco, Chiapas and Veracruz. Homes and crops have been destroyed, and it is estimated that over 80,000 people are living in temporary shelters. The Governor of Tabasco has said that 80% of the state is flooded and 350,000 people are trapped in their homes. Water levels are not expected to recede for a few more days at least, further hampering aid efforts and increasing concerns about the spread of water-born diseases.

InterAction members are responding to this crisis by providing medicines and basic health services, food, water, shelter, blankets and other relief supplies and services. Coming to this disaster with a long history of working in the region with local partners, many organizations will continue working after the emergency response phase to assist the effected communities in their rebuilding efforts.

A regularly updated list of agencies responding is available at: http://www.interaction.org/mexico

InterAction has also developed guidelines on the most appropriate ways to help those affected by overseas disasters: http://www.interaction.org/disaster/guide_giving.html.

InterAction is a coalition of more than 160 US-based private relief, international development and refugee assistance organizations. InterAction members have agreed to abide by a set of standards to ensure accountability to donors, professional competence and quality of service.

ORGANIZATIONS RESPONDING TO THE FLOODS IN MEXICO

ADRA International Emergency Response Fund 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring MD 20904 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) www.adra.org

American Red Cross Mexico Emergency Response Operation P.O. Box 37243 Washington, D.C. 20013 1-800-HELP-NOW www.redcross.org

AmeriCares 88 Hamilton Avenue Stamford CT 06902 1-800-486-4357 www.americares.org

Baptist World Aid Baptist World Aid 405 North Washington Street Falls Church, VA 22046 www.bwanet.org/bwaid

Catholic Relief Services LACRO Severe Weather Fund P.O. Box 17090 Baltimore, Maryland 21203-7090 1-877-HELP-CRS www.crs.org

Church World Service P.O. Box 968 Elkhart, IN 46515 www.churchworldservice.org

Habitat for Humanity International Mexico Floods 121 Habitat Street Americus, GA 31709-3498 1-800-HABITAT www.habitat.org/disaster

Medical Teams International PO Box 10 Portland, OR 97207 800-959-4325 www.medicalteams.org

Operation USA Designate "Mexico Floods" 3617 Hayden Avenue, Suite A Culver City, California 90232 800-678-7255 http://www.opusa.org

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Hunger Program DR000014 100 Witherspoon Street Louisville, Kentucky 40202 800-872-3283 www.pcusa.org/pda

Save the Children USA Mexico Floods 54 Wilton Road Westport, CT 06880 1-800-728-3843 www.savethechildren.org

US Fund for UNICEF 333 East 38th Street New York, NY 10016 1-800-4UNICEF www.unicefusa.org

World Vision P.O. Box 9716 Federal Way, WA 98063 1-888-511-6548 www.worldvision.org

DETAILS OF ASSISTANCE BEING PROVIDED

ADRA International (November 4, 2007) ADRA and its local partners are present on the ground and responding in Tabasco and Chiapas. ADRA Mexico is operating 15 soup kitchens in Tabasco, providing meals for thousands of survivors who have lost their homes, crops, and belongings in the flooding. In the mountainous areas of Chiapas, ADRA is providing hot meals and food baskets for at least 2,000 survivors. ADRA is also providing food aid for nearly 2,200 families devastated by previous natural disasters throughout Mexico.

American Red Cross (November 5, 2007) The American Red Cross has contributed $50,000 to the Mexican Red Cross, as well as the deployment of a disaster response worker in support of the Tabasco floods relief operation. The American Red Cross anticipates providing additional assistance, including funds, personnel and/or relief supplies based on needs indicated by the Mexican Red Cross. The American Red Cross is accepting financial contributions to help those affected by the flooding.

AmeriCares (November 5, 2007) AmeriCares has been providing aid to Mexico since 1989, working with the Mexican Association of Malta to deliver medicines, medical supplies and nutritional supplements to communities in Mexico that lack access to medicine. When disaster strikes, such as the current flooding in Tabasco, AmeriCares reaches out to its partner to offer emergency relief for the people affected. AmeriCares has been providing aid to people devastated by natural disasters for 25 years and has developed the expertise required to deliver emergency supplies and critical medicines to areas destroyed by violent storms. Gifts-in-Kind accepted: medicines and medical supplies.

Baptist World Aid (November 5, 2007) Baptist World Aid is working with our member body in Mexico, Convencion Nacional Bautista de Mexico, in providing relief to persons affected by the flooding. Needed items are being purchased in the surrounding areas and distributed by the Baptist community. Funding is needed to purchase basic needs for the affected families.

Catholic Relief Services (November 5, 2007) Catholic Relief Services, working closely with Caritas Mexicana and Caritas Tabasco, has committed $1 million to provide food, water, blankets and other basic emergency supplies to thousands of affected families. Long-term recovery efforts will likely include agricultural rehabilitation and housing construction and repair.

Church World Service (November 5, 2007) Church World Service is responding to this disaster by supporting efforts of its partner agency Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). PDA and its affiliate, Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de Mexico (the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico), are assisting disaster survivors by providing shelter, meals, water and basic health services. Further efforts will include the provision of cleanup and household supplies.

Habitat for Humanity International (November 5, 2007) Habitat for Humanity International will work through it's National Organization, Habitat For Humanity Mexico, and with other NGO partners in transitional and permanent housing recovery in the affected areas of Mexico.

Medical Teams International Medical Teams International (November 5, 2007) MTI is currently conducting a health assessment to identify unmet health care needs. MTI Mexico Office personnel and HQ staff have been deployed to Villahermosa in order to conduct this assessment. Gifts-in-Kind Accepted: medicines & medical supplies.

Operation USA (November 5, 2007) Operation USA is collecting funds to help re-establish area's health clinics and hospitals; gifts-in-kind: new supplies in bulk in health, shelter, water purification and energy generation. Operation USA has worked in Mexico since 1981 on disaster relief and recovery projects.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Hunger Program (November 5, 2007) Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is working with the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (INPM) in responding to the flooding in Tabasco, Mexico. Five of the INPM presbyteries are affected by the flooding and the presbytery offices are currently sheltering more than 1,000 families. INPM is coordinate the civil defense of Tabasco (CENECAM) and is working with the Department of Health for water and sanitation. PDA has forwarded funds for the immediate purchase of bottled water, food, and bedding for the shelters. PDA is working with Action by Churches Together (ACT) -Geneva in preparing a broader appeal for the crisis.

Save the Children USA (November 5, 2007) Save the Children has staff on the ground and is working to provide lifesaving relief to families in the flood-devastated state of Tabasco, Mexico. The agency will focus on meeting the immediate needs of displaced children and families, including clean water, food and shelter. The agency has been working in the country for 40 years.

US Fund for UNICEF UNICEF, in partnership with the government and international and national non-governmental organizations, has provided immediate humanitarian assistance to children and women. Nevertheless, additional resources are required to ensure that the basic rights of children are met, to contribute to the rehabilitation process of the affected zones and to reinforce emergency stocks as the hurricane season is not yet over.

World Vision (November 5, 2007) World Vision is distributing potable water and hygiene supplies to prevent disease outbreaks: things like soap, shampoo, toilet paper, diapers and liquid cleaner. The agency is setting up Child-Friendly Spaces in the shelters to give children a safe place to play, keep learning and regain a sense of normalcy. World Vision also plans to help children access school supplies and other necessities once they are able to return to school.