Hurricane / The opinion of journalist Ernesto Reyes | It happened in Oaxaca It happened in Oaxaca Facilities of the support organization for children with disabilities, Piña Palmera, were destroyed. High winds and flooding...

Huracán / La opinión del periodista Ernesto Reyes | Sucedió en Oaxaca Sucedió en Oaxaca Instalaciones de la organización de apoyo a niños con discapacidad, Piña Palmera, quedaron destruidas. Los fuertes vientos y las inundaciones ...

Hurricane / The opinion of journalist Ernesto Reyes

EDITOR on June 18, 2022 at 10:33 am

ERNEST REYES

The devastating passage of Hurricane "Paulina" in 1997 is still fresh in the memory of thousands of Oaxacans. Its indelible wounds, of pain and death, have taken several years to heal, in terms of reconstruction, because the emergency declarations were a bottomless barrel through which enormous amounts of money were leaking. It is no news to anyone that the disappeared FONDEN turned corrupt public servants who have passed through agencies such as the DIF, Civil Protection and Caminos y Aeropistas de Oaxaca into nouveau riche, to name a few. But he also increased the fortunes of municipal presidents and partisan operators who profited from the pain of others.

The high cost is remembered now that the magnitude two hurricane Agatha savagely hit hundreds of poor families. The evaluations of the economic, social, health and educational infrastructure must include medium-sized merchants, farmers, tourist service providers and inhabitants of the most remote ranches. More than two weeks later, 38 municipalities have been declared emergency and disaster zones.

As on the 10th, this Friday, June 17, the President of the Republic had to present the comprehensive plan and resources for the recovery of roads, schools, health centers, as well as the reconstruction of hundreds of homes. For this, he arranged for federal agencies to carry out infrastructure actions and deliver goods. The delivery is direct to the municipal authorities for the reconstruction of bridges and local roads, with the support of the population, eliminating the intermediaries, because along the way many of the supports vanish. Their presence, to give order and speed, is of vital importance because neither the state government nor the municipalities have the budgets to respond effectively.

Before May 30, when it hit the ground, the political class, entertained to see who would get the governorship, looked sideways at the threat. At least nine people would die and six would remain as disappeared. Official reports, from civil society and social organizations mentioned a large number of isolated populations, due to destroyed bridges and drinking water networks, without electricity and telephone power, swollen rivers and streams, landslides and a considerable agricultural disaster.

Damage was identified in municipalities such as Pluma Hidalgo, Santiago Xanica (the Loxicha area), Santa María Tonameca, San Pedro Pochutla, San Mateo Piñas and the Ozolotepec micro-region. Facilities of the support organization for children with disabilities, Piña Palmera, were destroyed. The strong winds and the pluvial floods hindered mobility, food supply and the actions of the DN III Plan implemented by the Army, the Navy and state corporations. The downpours spread to the Chontal and Zapotec areas of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

On the other hand, Agatha revealed the poor and marginalized Oaxaca that hides behind the official publicity about beach destinations, the Guelaguetza and the magical towns. There were exposed the infamous conditions in which the existence of thousands of families develops that, were it not for the Welfare programs, they would not have the minimum to get ahead.

Unlike "Paulina", when communication was carried out by conventional means, Agatha showed the effectiveness of social networks, although the power and telephone signal outages made it impossible to know immediately the levels of devastation. In order to channel aid, they fulfilled a very important function, disseminating the collection centers set up by civil society and the authorities in this capital and other places. Regional radio, particularly on the coast, played a relevant role, although some stations suffered the fall of their transmission towers, a situation that the reporters resolved with real-time transmissions via digital platforms.

The presence of López Obrador, in the affected area, reactivates hope for the thousands of victims and drives away the robber. We hope that the brigades, in charge of the Welfare Secretariat, have carried out the census of those affected with professionalism and social sensitivity and that no one is excluded.

@ernestoreyes14

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