Criminal Gangs Prevent Storm Aid from Reaching Victims in Mexico EFE
go to original October 25, 2013

Residents of neighborhoods in Acapulco, a port city in Mexico's Guerrero state, take to the roofs of their houses on Sept. 17 due to the floods caused by two hurricanes. (EFE)

MEXICO CITY - Gangs are preventing aid from reaching victims of Hurricane Manuel in southern Mexico, with most of the problems in Guerrero state, the Reforma newspaper reports.

The cities of Coyuca de Catalan, Ajuchitlan del Progreso, Arcelia, Teloloapan and San Miguel Totolapan, all located in the Tierra Caliente region, have been affected.

Problems have also been reported in the cities of Tlacoapa, San Luis Acatlan and Metlatonoc, all located in the Montaña region, the newspaper said.

Gunmen stole two official SUVs being used by relief workers "and forced them to go back on foot," Reforma said, citing Guerrero and federal officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Emergency workers were unable to deliver aid or complete a count of storm victims in Totoltepec, a requirement set by President Enrique Peña Nieto after Manuel hit the area in mid-September.

Read the rest at La Prensa

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