On September 15, the Government of Mexico sent a letter to the UNRC, welcome proposals and supplies that will help families recover, as well as the reconstruction of public spaces, such as schools and hospitals.

The estimated number of children affected by the earthquake in Chiapas and Oaxaca exceeds 2.1 million. In addition, about $1.2 million is required by UNICEF Mexico for immediate and complementary response to the needs of children and adolescents in earthquake affected areas and possibly in areas to be affected by simultaneously incoming hurricanes.

After rapid assessment made by UNICEF, we have prepared a response plan for 6 priority municipalities in Oaxaca and Chiapas, mainly in the areas of education and child protection.

UNICEF's support will focus on 40 schools and 16 shelter in 6 priority municipalities, targeting approx. 20,000 children.

Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs

Oaxaca
-1,075 schools are affected: 54 in the 5 priority municipalities (10,595
students). In total, there are 13,500 schools in Oaxaca.
-Census of schools has been finished by IEEPO (local education institute)
in the Istmo area.
-UNICEF staff deployed in the Istmo area have visited 10 shelters where
there is a fluctuating number of children and adolescents from daytime
to nighttime. Stress and fear is still present among children and their
parents.

Chiapas
-There are 1,606 schools affected, 86 with major damages. 97 of these
schools are in Tonala, 40 in Mapastepec, 72 in Pijijiapan and 21 in
Zinacantan.
-Main needs are: advocacy and support for a prompt return to school and to promote education continuity (support
through distribution of school-in-a-box and finding temporary learning spaces).
-UNICEF staff deployed in Chiapas visited a total of 4 shelters in Mapastepec, Pijijiapan and Tonalá.

Humanitarian Response to Date

Education
-In coordination with the Ministry of Education, UNICEF is carrying out an inventory of schools requiring immediate
assistance through establishment of temporary learning spaces in Oaxaca and Chiapas. Advocacy has been made
with the Ministry to provide aulas moviles (mobile classrooms), while UNICEF has committed to provide school-ina-box
for schools which will receive the said mobile classrooms.
-In collaboration with Child Protection, teachers in Oaxaca and Chiapas will receive training in provision of
psychosocial support for children in earthquake-affected municipalities.
-UNICEF is advocating for an early return to school and will work with the Ministry of Education for a back-to-school
campaign for early psychosocial recovery of earthquake-affected children.

Child Protection
-On 18 September, child and adolescent friendly spaces were installed in Juchitán and Ixtaltepec, Oaxaca.
-Psycho-social support is a key intervention in terms of child protection, as well as advocacy in shelters and other
areas of temporary refuge to observe child protection guidelines. There is still a need to have an inventory of nonformal
shelters organized by civil society and other organizations.
-Initial discussions with Office of Attorneys for Child Protection (Procuraduría de la Protección de la Niñez) is
underway to ensure immediate attention to cases of separation, violence, exploitation and abuse of children in
situations of emergency.

Humanitarian Coordination
-UNICEF is closely working with World Vision, Save the Children and Universidad del Mar (Oaxaca) to establish a
total of 16 friendly spaces in shelters and/or parks.
-UNICEF staff perceive challenges in Oaxaca in terms of aid coordination. There are also differences in data coming
from official sources vs data from the teachers’ union.
-UNICEF is closely working with government counterparts: Civil Protection, Social Welfare (DIF), Children Protection
Attorneys, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education at both federal and state levels.
-A UN Emergency Team meeting is taking place on 19 September 2017 to coordinate emergency response for the
UN Country Team in Mexico.

Media and External Communication
-UNICEF continues to have a strong presence in national newspapers, both online and print version, and on TV and
radio with interviews regarding the earthquake. From 8-18 September, there have been more than 248 mentions
of UNICEF in national and international media (CNN, BBC, The New York Times). UNICEF has appeared in major
television stations and news outlets in Mexico, including two appearances on Televisa, Canal Once, TV Azteca,
among many others.
-UNICEF Mexico has positioned itself as the most visible actor on the situation of children in the emergency,
reaching the top position in Twitter.