A number of our members have expressed sadness at the devistation of the lilttle Village of Majahual by Hurricane Dean. Almost nothing is left of it - except the residents. (Thank God they are safe!)
Some of you have also posted wondering how you can help.
This thread is for reporting on relief efforts for the area affected. If you find reports of relief efforts, or ways that those who wish to do so can help, here's the place to post that news.
Zydeco Cruiser first got this ball rolling by posting these links on another thread:
Here is an excerpt from an article on one of the pages linked to by Zydeco. These people were going to load up again and return today. Unfortunately, I saw the article too late to donate for today's run, but am watching to see what they write when they return, and if they will be making a third trip to Majahual. It is 175 miles each way for them. The following three paragraphs is amazing reading. (As is the entire article)
This morning, a varied group of Playa del Carmen locals (Mexican, American, Israeli, Dutch and English) headed down the coast in a convoy with five truckloads of relief supplies for Mahahual. We weren’t sure what to expect, so we loaded our best guesses: water, rice, toilet paper, sanitary napkins, diapers, milk, clothing, etc. The entire thing was organized by the incredible Claudia, an EMT for Cruz Roja and long-time Playa resident.
When we got to Mahahual, we were stunned. Most of the buildings in this small village had been destroyed. Those that are still standing are incredibly damaged. This was, after, the third strongest hurricane in history, and the little pueblo of Mahahual was right on the beach. We were incredibly surprised that no relief effort had yet reached them. We were the first. The Mexican Army was there and had set up a great soup kitchen, but their primary task was to open the roads and clear debris from public areas. The Army was itself isolated, and we ended up offering food and water to them, which they graciously accepted.
The people of Mahahual are an incredible inspiration. They thanked us profusely for the assistance we brought. They calmly lined up to accept our donations. No one tried to take more than they needed; no one tried to hoard materials. When people had received food, water and clothing sufficient for their needs, they always stepped aside for the next person.
Here's more. This will really tell you how it is there right now:
How badly are things needed? One man asked if we had a shirt, since he had only one shirt left after the hurricane, and he had already worn it nonstop for four days. We stopped people from filling water bottles with rancid swamp water and offered them fresh water in bottles. Francisco, the chef at the soup kitchen, thanked us profusely when we gave him what we had and said they could really use some eggs, rice, beans, cooking oil, and large pots and spoons, as he was trying to feed 200 people at every meal with little or no supplies. Mens with hands bleeding from hauling debris thankfully accepted the gloves that we brought. Mothers asked for milk and diapers, and we gave what we could until we ran out. The doctor who came down to work for free with no help and no end in sight simply asked if we had something to sleep on besides the floor. We found a sleeping bag. When we go back on Saturday, we’ll bring him a cot. And it was impossible to miss the babies and children playing in the rubble
I see they have made it back, but not sure how much more posting will be done tonight. They must be exhausted. This time they had over $7000 in donations.
"We are back, just got in the door. I have more photos, but really, I am just too tired to post them. Tony the Eloquent will most likely write up the report, but he might be too tired as well, as he drove the entire way back (4 hours). Plus he had to put up with Cheri and me giggling together like we were at a slumber party.
Still mind-boggling to witness the desolate landscape that was once a vibrant and beautiful little Caribbean town. It's also really amazing to witness the people of that town pulling up their bootstraps and getting to work, without sitting around and waiting for assistance that may never come.
We had 7 vans/trucks/cars and two trailers today, all packed to the rooftops with donated goods and things bought new with your and others' donations. It was a beautiful sight to behold and I felt incredibly proud to be a part of our "rainbow" community.
I promise I will post the pics tomorrow, when I am not so bone tired."
Cruz Roja is Red Cross, but I guess it is taking a while for the bureaucracy wheels to turn, but here is a local site: Untitled Document
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Helping MAJAHUAL (devistated by DEAN)
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