Mexico leaves Indigenous People in the Mud

Large amounts of rainfall produce weak slope faces, which can result in slope failures such as seen above. 

          Tropical Storm Manuel made landfall in late September but many rural villages of Mexico still are feeling the effects and devastation. Many forced from their homes that are now filled with feet of mud are living under tin roofs open to the elements. Since many of these villages are indigenous people, socioeconomic standing is virtually non-existent. With no way to fund efforts to recover from the storm, villagers make do with the higher ground available, a cemetery.

Makeshift homes of tin and plastic tarps were set up to shelter those who lost their homes and possessions.

          Recovery efforts were focused on wealthy, high traffic areas of the region leaving the smaller villages to rely on food and resources from nearby villages. Deprivation to indigenous people of Mexico is not a recent creation. For years, the Mexican government has ignored the more than 10% of its population. 30% of indigenous people are illiterate and nearly 90% have no access to medical care or even running water. This is without a disaster. In general, people of low socioeconomic status are more vulnerable to hazards due to the lack of these resources and commonly they are living in sub-par conditions. Sadly, the most attention given to these areas are when a disaster does occur, but more than media coverage is necessary to help these people.

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          After landslides, poorest of poor left out in cold in Mexico

          Mexico Cleans Up from Deadly Manuel