The children’s limerick, “rain, rain go away, come again another day” is apropos to describe Oaxaca this summer. It has rained incessantly and our friends have said this is the wettest time they can ever remember. The ground is saturated.
This makes mountain villages like Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec especially vulnerable because there is no where else to build except on the hillsides.
News from Tlahuitoltepec today is not good. In this Mixe village of about 10,000 people, a massive 4:00 a.m. landslide buried people inside their homes as they were sleeping.
To read more, see www.commondreams.org
The remote village is about 50 miles from our village of Teotitlan del Valle (also about 10,000 pop.), but it takes three to four hours to get there over curving mountain roads.
Our friends at the Oaxaca Lending Library (OLL) are asking for help and donations for the village. Specifically, here is what is needed:
- bottled water
- powdered milk
- easy-to-open canned foods
- disposable diapers
- warm clothing (used is okay)
- blankets
- cash donations
To help, contact Oaxaca Lending Library email: library@prodigy.net.mx Stephen and I are members of the Oaxaca Lending Library. They are an organization of local Oaxaquenos and expatriates who make Oaxaca their home. You can be assured that any gifts will get to the intended community directly — this is a legitimate organization.
Pino Suárez 519, Centro
68000, Oaxaca, México
Tel. 951 5187077
Do you have an update on this situation to share with us?
Kathleen
Kathleen, thanks for asking. Eleven people died: four adults and seven children, according to the latest reports. A loss, but not the huge human loss that was first anticipated. However, the mountain villages are deeply affected and there is a big need for all kinds of supplies, bottled water, clothing, canned goods, etc. I have a complete list elsewhere on this blog. The Museo Textil de Oaxaca has been a collection center to send necessities to the Mixe region. I have included contact info, too, on that blog post. -Norma
I’m relieved to hear that the loss of life was less than originally thought, though I know it is still devastating for this community. How wonderful of you to assist in the efforts to collect donations.
Kathleen