Vatican City, 14 November 2007 – Caritas has launched an appeal for nearly two million USD to help thousands of families recover from flooding that devastated most of the Mexican state of Tabasco and parts of neighbouring Chiapas two weeks ago.

Over one million people have been affected by what is some of the country's worst flooding in half a century. Crops were destroyed, and businesses and infrastructure badly damaged. Much of Tabasco's capital, Villahermosa, was under water, while many rural areas are just now becoming accessible.

"The people of Tabasco and Chiapas were already some of the poorest in the country. What little they had, they have now lost," said Caritas Internationalis President Cardinal Rodriguez.

"People need homes, schools and hospitals rebuilt. They need help replanting crops. They need help returning to work. Caritas is launching this global appeal to begin working with the people of Tabasco and Chiapas in rebuilding their lives."

At the outset, Caritas set up temporary shelters in schools, churches, and parish buildings, making sure residents had food, water, and other essential items. Currently, 26,000 people are residing in Church-run temporary shelters, while another 23,000 people are living with Church-supported host families.

The scale of the disaster, including limited public water supply, damage to electricity power supplies, and heightened health risks, means that people will likely remain in temporary shelter for some time yet.

Caritas Emergency officer Dolores Bachmann has been helping to coordinate relief efforts in Mexico. She said, "With funds from this appeal, Caritas will work to ensure that over 8000 families living in emergency shelters or with host families have access to sufficient food, water, hygiene, sanitation facilities, healthcare, and other essentials over the next three months.

"We will focus on helping residents in the emergency shelters to organise and manage their daily lives, and will support families as they prepare to return home, providing each with a kit to clean up their damaged homes.

"At the same time, Caritas will be working closely with the affected families to develop a long-term plan to recover their livelihoods and rebuild their lives and communities."

Please contact Patrick Nicholson on 0039 06 69879725 or 0039 3343590700 or nicholson@caritas.va