Press Releases 07
Ambassador Garza and Wife Visit Flood-stricken Areas With
Directors of U.S. and Mexican Red Cross
Statement by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza
Mexico City, November 9, 2007 — “As Mariasun and I flew over
flood-stricken areas today with Mexican Red Cross President
Daniel Goñi Díaz, American Red Cross President Mark Everson,
and Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean
of the United States Agency for International Development
Paul Bonicelli, we were humbled by the extent of the devastation.
At the same time, we were moved by the amazing cooperation
between Mexicans and teams from the U.S. and elsewhere, providing
critical assistance and helping the residents of Tabasco and
Chiapas find their way to safety and begin the process of
restoring the flooded areas and rebuilding their lives.
“Clearly this area will need some time to recover, and the
physical and emotional scars of those struck by this tragedy
will be slow to heal. However, the global outpouring of sympathy
and support will help speed the process. The government of
the United States has already directly provided $420,000 dollars
in assistance to the people of Mexico and the Mexican Red
Cross. At the same time, people throughout the United States
are also contributing money, goods, and time to the international
relief effort.
“The strength of the Mexican people in the face of a disaster
of this magnitude is a tribute to the human spirit. While
visiting communities struggling under flood waters, or those
displaced by the deluge, I was impressed by the way people
pulled together to hasten their own recovery from this disaster.
“The people of Chiapas and Tabasco are in our hearts and
minds and the people of the United States will continue to
stand by you in the coming weeks and months.”
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