By Peter Gellert
MEXICO CITY — A week after Mexico's worst storm in recorded history, the country's Pacific coast has barely started picking itself out of the rubble and destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Paulina.
The hurricane lashed the coastal areas of the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero on October 2, inflicting major damage on indigenous peasant communities as well as the world-famous tourist resort city of Acapulco.
The death count officially stands at 195, but church officials in Guerrero said that if unidentified bodies and those missing since the disaster struck are added, the number of dead would reach 500. The Red Cross reports that as of October 16, 2100 persons in the two states are still unaccounted for. Most are presumed dead.
About 400,000 have been left homeless in Oaxaca and Guerrero, and a third of Acapulco's million inhabitants have been affected, most having been left without electricity or water. Tens of thousands who depended on tourism to earn a living are without work.
Like all natural calamities, Paulina and its aftermath have highlighted social and material inequalities and magnified existing political flashpoints.
State and local authorities have been strongly criticised for failing to warn people of the approach and magnitude of the storm, or to evacuate areas known to be at high risk.
Relief organisations and commentators have contrasted how official agencies reacted, or failed to react, with Cuba's response to Hurricane Lili two years ago. In that case, while material losses could not be prevented, there were no deaths thanks to a massive mobilisation to evacuate and relocate those in danger's way.
Damage was so great in Acapulco because for years tourism and hotel development had pushed thousands off their land, forcing residents to rebuild their homes in makeshift squatter settlements on hillsides and other areas. Corrupt officials from the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party looked the other way — for a price — while building codes and zoning laws were being violated.
Mexican society has responded generously to calls for humanitarian aid. Tens of thousands are involved in grassroots efforts to collect canned food, powdered milk, clothing and blankets for the hundreds of thousands in need.
These efforts have centred mainly on poor and lower middle-class neighbourhoods. Almost all of Mexico's combative independent neighbourhood associations are organising campaigns. Wealthy areas of Mexico City and the surrounding area reportedly responded poorly to the appeals.
But demand has far outstripped supply everywhere, and, one week later, many outlying, indigenous communities in Oaxaca complained that aid had yet to reach them.
At the same time, reports have emerged of political favouritism in the distribution of aid, donated food being given to police instead of storm victims and acts of corruption and merchants artificially raising prices on basic necessities such as bottled water and tortillas. Thus far, in Acapulco alone, 25 people have been arrested and charged with diverting aid intended for hurricane victims.
Desperate and hungry storm victims in Oaxaca have been attacking food aid delivery trucks, which now travel accompanied by armed escorts, while in Acapulco, main streets have been blocked to protest against alleged theft of food parcels. The Red Cross has temporarily suspended distribution of food and bottled water to prevent corruption and hoarding.
A major concern has been the reported outbreaks of malaria, dengue fever, gastrointestinal diseases and cholera. Lack of drinking water is a major cause of these ailments. Health authorities are on a state of maximum alert.
President Ernesto Zedillo cancelled the final stretch of his European tour to visit the affected areas. The president has asked that the disaster not be used for political ends, an indirect criticism of the opposition parties, particularly the left-leaning Party of the Democratic Revolution, which is demanding the resignation of the governor of Guerrero and local disaster prevention officials. Few have heeded Zedillo's call.
The government has mobilised 7000 troops to help in relief operations. Five cabinet ministers have also visited the affected areas.
Although monetary damages have not been assessed, Zedillo said the federal government would reassign budget funds to rebuild roads, schools, homes, drinking water and electrical infrastructure and provide temporary employment for thousands of peasants whose crops have been destroyed.
But it will take several years and major budget outlays to put the affected areas' economies back on their feet. Farming, animal husbandry and traditional fishing have been devastated.