CADENA is an international nonprofit organization committed to addressing humanitarian crises through emergency relief, resilience-building, and preparedness initiatives. As an eligible organization with CAF America and an active responder on our new Global Relief Navigator, CADENA provides vital support to communities affected by natural disasters, offering aid such as food, medical supplies, and reconstruction assistance. Their work extends beyond immediate relief, as they also focus on empowering communities to prepare for future crises, both locally and globally. Operating primarily in Latin America with a presence in regions as diverse as Mexico, South America, Europe, and Africa, CADENA continues to lead in disaster response and resilience efforts.
Disaster Relief and Preparedness in Chiapas
CADENA’s efforts in Chiapas exemplify how disaster relief can also serve as preparation for future crises. Located on Mexico’s Pacific coast and bordering Guatemala, Chiapas is disaster-prone. CADENA began working there in 2017, aiding in the reconstruction efforts in the community of Miguel Hidalgo after a series of earthquakes destroyed 200 homes.¹ In addition to frequent quakes, the region has recently faced flash floods.² Drier weather also poses a threat, with extended droughts occurring during previous El Niño cycles.³
As each climate event impacts access to potable water in Chiapas, Mexico, CADENA continuously works in advance of these crises to build disaster resilience. Before disasters strike, they assist with rainwater collection and storage, provide training sessions on irrigation, and offer water planning services.⁴ The community is now better prepared for situations where potable water becomes inaccessible, whether due to drought, lack of access to roads after an earthquake, or polluted runoff from heavy rains and flooding.⁵ The frequency of these events makes building programs and plans for disaster resilience essential.
Increasing local capability to respond to natural catastrophes allows communities to mitigate and prevent the worst effects of disasters and recover more quickly. An important dimension of the water crisis in Chiapas is the inter-community conflict arising from the lack of clean water, often escalating to fatal violence. Lack of resources can exacerbate local ethnic tensions, which have a history of frequent conflict dating back 30 years. Amid these divisions, organized crime groups operating in the area also seek to control utilities, leading to extortion and more competition.⁶ These conflicts leave a legacy of tension and resentment that can fuel further violence, creating a vicious cycle. The grievances and resentments have profound and lasting effects on relationships between communities, taking years to resolve. Droughts have pushed communities to compete violently for clean water. By establishing mechanisms for better access to clean water and preparing local communities for water-related crises, CADENDA prevents tensions and improves lives by addressing the main cause of stress.
Beyond Chiapas: CADENA’s Global Response
In addition to Chiapas, CADENA engages in critical disaster resilience and response outside Chiapas and other states in Mexico. Central & South America are both very prone to the effects of climate change.⁷ Disasters there are often characterized by opposing extremes, shifting from drought to powerful rainstorms and floods.⁸ They also include earthquakes and the health and economic effects of COVID-19. CADENA’s responses include various types of aid delivery: food for vulnerable groups in Chile, humanitarian assistance after earthquakes and hurricanes in Mexico and Colombia, and solar-powered lighting following wildfires in Argentina. In the past two years, they have expanded their reach to Poland, assisting Ukrainian refugees with medical equipment and psychosocial support.⁹
CADENA also recently responded to Hurricane Otis in Mexico. Striking in 2023, Hurricane Otis was one of the most devastating hurricanes in recent history, particularly affecting Acapulco and the surrounding areas in Guerrero, Mexico. Reaching Category Five status, Otis became the costliest tropical cyclone in Mexico’s history, with damages estimated at over $15 billion. CADENA provided aid to over 100,000 individuals and renovated 1,000 houses along the coast.
CADENA’s commitment to disaster relief, resilience-building, and preparedness is evident in their extensive efforts in both Chiapas and around the world. From reconstructing homes and improving water access in Chiapas to providing food, medical equipment, and social support in various regions, CADENA addresses the diverse challenges posed by natural and man-made disasters. CADENA not only alleviates immediate suffering but also fosters long-term resilience, helping communities better withstand future crises. Their comprehensive approach continues to make a significant impact, advancing the goal of creating a safer, more resilient world for all. Explore the Global Relief Navigator to view the crises to which CADENA is actively responding.
Footnotes
- https://www.undrr.org/news/undrr-head-see-how-mexicos-chiapas-builds-resilience
- https://www.google.com/url?q=https://floodlist.com/america/mexico-floods-chiapas-june-2023&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1689619596513346&usg=AOvVaw0TIkytuRddjjJ7TzPI5HPY
- https://www.preventionweb.net/news/drought-hit-chiapas-leads-sendai
- https://cadena.ngo/en/missions/installation-of-drinking-water-in-chiapas/
- https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/foodwater/safe-water.html#:~:text=Floods%20and%20other%20disasters%20can,bathing%2C%20and%20other%20hygiene%20activities
- https://apnews.com/article/mexico-displaced-violence-chiapas-3c7ee79fd2756b61e77713336306b9d7
- Matias Franchini and Eduardo Viola, “Aggravating Domestic Public Security Risk in the Frame of Low Interstate Conflict,” in Climate Security in Latin America and the Caribbean, ed. Adriana Erthal Abdenur, Giovanna Kuele and Alice Amorim (Igarape Institute, 2019): 109-119.
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “January – April 2015,” Humanitarian Bulletin Latin America and Caribbean 21 (2015): 1.
- https://cadena.ngo/boletin/nuestra-segunda-fase-en-polonia-ha-comenzado/
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