Victims Easter 2010 Earthquake

Mexicali Valley victims
Help from the US.
By Sandra Dibble, UNION-TRIBUNE

Originally published August 26, 2010 at 6:11 p.m., updated August 27, 2010 at 2:47 p.m.
In the Ejido Durango section of the southern Mexicali Valley, Dolores de Echeverria walked last April through the heavily damaged doorway of her house that became uninhabitable after the Easter 2010 earthquake.

TIJUANA—Five months after their homes were damaged by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake, some Baja California residents can expect help from the U.S. federal government. The U.S. Agency for International Development this month donated $100,000 to purchase building materials for victims of the Mexicali earthquake that struck last Easter Sunday.

Carlos Pascual, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, said in a statement that the funds would be channeled through the Baja California government and earmarked for residents of communities near the quake’s epicenter in the Mexicali Valley that have suffered the greatest devastation.

Baja California authorities said this week that the money is being used to purchase building materials: 7000 bags of cement mix, 4.000 ledges of timber and 2150 pieces of plywood. The money will help residents with damaged houses who have yet to receive government assistance, said Juan Jose Sanchez, who heads the Mexicali office of the Baja California state housing agency, Indivi.

“It’s going to help a lot,” Sanchez said. The money will be used to supplement existing housing assistance programs aimed at residents whose houses were damaged, but not completely destroyed, he said. He expects the materials to reach residents next month.

Juan Tintos, head of public relations for the Baja California government, said Sempra Energy has also donated over $100,00 to purchase equipment for the Mexicali Civil Protection Office, and repair the General Hospital, which suffered damage in the quake.
quake