U.S. safe water nonprofit aids Mexico flood victims
Water Missions International provides disaster relief with clean, safe water for more than 20,000 people
September 20, 2013 - Water Missions International (WMI), in partnership with Operation Blessing and air-assistance from the Mexican military, has mobilized four safe water treatment systems to arrive in Acapulco, Mexico in response to disastrous flooding that has killed 97 people and impacted thousands to date. Together, the systems have the capacity to serve the daily drinking water needs of more than 20,000 people across the state of Guerrero. Safe drinking water will help provide protection against many life-threatening diseases, including cholera, typhoid and diarrhea, which are a severe threat in the aftermath of heavy floods.
“Safe drinking water is the most critical need in the days following a natural disaster. When basic needs are not met, we know that water is the difference between life and death, as fatal waterborne diseases spread rampantly in untreated drinking water,” said George C. Greene III, PE, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Water Missions International.
Water Missions International has had a presence in Mexico since 2007, and thus is able to respond with water treatment equipment and staff already in country. Utilizing best-in-class technology from world-renowned manufacturers of water treatment equipment, disaster response safe water solutions feature the same technology used in WMI’s long-term community development projects. It is the goal of WMI for all disaster response to transition into permanent safe water projects, which will supply water in communities for generations to come.
Previously, Water Missions International has responded to some of the largest natural disasters around the world, including the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2008 Sichuan China earthquake, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia. Disaster relief projects in Haiti continue to provide safe water today and are being transitioned into permanent community development initiatives.
To donate to Water Missions International’s ongoing disaster relief efforts around the world, please visit www.watermissions.org.
About Water Missions International
Water Missions International is a nonprofit Christian engineering organization providing sustainable safe water and sanitation solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas. Using state-of-the-art technology and engineering expertise, the organization has provided access to safe water for more than 2.4 million people in 49 countries on five continents since 2001. Water Missions International implements customized solutions through a comprehensive community development model in its nine permanent country programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Notably, Charity Navigator has awarded Water Missions International their top rating seven years in a row, a distinction shared by only two percent of the charities rated by the organization. To learn more about Water Missions International, visit www.watermissions.org.
Media Contact
Mollie Williams
PR & Marketing Coordinator
mwilliams@watermissions.org
864.419.6204
