As Mexico recovers from several earthquakes that struck the country this month, there’s a disproportionate amount of attention on Mexico City – a place that felt the affects of these devastating disasters but was not the location of the epicenter. The first earthquake, a magnitude 8.1, struck near Chiapas. About two weeks later, a 7.1 quake struck the country. The center was east of the state of Puebla. And just over the weekend, the country felt the rumblings of a 6.1 magnitude aftershock, the epicenter of which was in Oaxaca.
With the help of social media and celebrities, the country has seen an outpouring of donations, though not all of them will benefit the people from Central and Southern Mexico. Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Puebla are also home to sizable indigenous populations, groups that are already among the most vulnerable. A recent Reuters article explored how wealthier citizens had received aid, leaving out some Mexico City residents. Also, in some towns in Morelos and Puebla, the government had yet to provide aid.
If you’re looking to help the people of Mexico, consider donating to states that haven’t garnered as much media attention but still need our help.
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Congreso Nacional Indígena
The Congreso Nacional Indigena, alongside the Concejo Indígena de Gobierno, are raising money for the area’s indigneous communities. Learn more here.
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Funds to Help Hueyapan, Morelos
https://www.facebook.com/guillermo.perezsoberanes/posts/1458814227487009
Guillermo Pérez Soberanes started a YouCaring page to raise money for those in Hueyapan, who have seen extensive damage. “Due to its rural and mountainous location, it is among the last to receive economic aid and sometimes not at all,” Pérez wrote. “Hueyapan is heavily damaged throughout. There is severe damage to homes, roads, government buildings, and the church Ex -Convento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Current evaluation estimates that 70% of the town is severely damaged.”
Donate here.
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Relief 4 Marginalized Zones in MX
Semillas Collective launched a GoFundMe page to help people that have received less help. “While some zones have been getting relief/support, others in zones like: Xochimilco (southern part of Mexico City) , Puebla, Oaxaca, and Morelos continue to await/are in desperate need of medical supplies ie. specific and expensive supplies such as small oxygen tanks, neck-braces, foldable-medical beds, insulin, syringes, epinephrine, etc,” the page reads.
Donate here.
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Diego Luna & Gael García Bernal's Earthquake Fund
Teaming up with Omaze and Ambulante (the non-profit documentary film festival they launched over a decade ago) – Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal started a relief fund. 100% of the monies donated will go towards local organizations to rebuild schools, homes, and hospitals. “Ambulante will ensure that funds and efforts are distributed across different states, rural and urban areas, and not just Mexico City,” the page reads.
The campaign runs through the end of October. You can donate via their Omaze page.