In the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, UNDP is working with authorities to create a recovery plan to rebuild earthquake-affected areas and kick-start economic and social recovery, upon request from the local Government.
Two earthquakes, the first one with magnitude 8.2 on the Richter scale, struck Oaxaca on 7 September followed by a second one, 12 days later. Nearly 5,000 aftershocks have been registered so far.
“This is an opportunity to lay the foundations for longer-term recovery and build resilient communities as part of a UN-wide humanitarian-development approach,” said UNDP Country Director in Mexico Katyna Argueta referring to the request for support from the Government of Oaxaca.
“Building back better entails a long-term strategy to boost skills among affected women and men, involve them in their communities’ recovery process, aiming to reduce inequalities and leave no one behind,” she added.
UNDP will advise on elements of economic recovery, particularly in the affected public markets and will facilitate the communities’ involvement in the reconstruction of housing and key infrastructure.
The Government is working to identify the needs of those that have lost their homes and to fully map displaced people and their needs.
In addition to Mexico City (Federal District), Oaxaca is one of the five states hardest hit by the two earthquakes—the latest one measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale—which struck the country on 19 September, killing more than 450 women, men and children, almost 60 percent of them in the capital city. Nearly 400 people are hospitalized nationwide. According to official estimates, over 34,000 households and over 10,000 schools were affected nationwide.
