Politics: Hurricane Otis’s devastation has only just begun as AMLO’s typical unipersonal response stymies reconstruction efforts
When Hurricane Otis delivered a devastating blow to the state of Guerrero, the second poorest in the country, no one from any level of government or emergency services was anywhere to be found even as civil society sought to fill the void, backed by the solidarity of philanthropic foundations and citizens around the country who donated food, clothing, medicines and other essential items. As authorities struggled to gain control over the situation, hampering private relief efforts in the process, they announced a woefully inadequate reconstruction plan.
International economic agencies estimate rebuilding will cost 270 billion pesos, more than four times what the government has promised but has yet to budget for. Preliminary estimates by hoteliers and real estate companies indicate that the reconstruction of tourism infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, condominiums for rent, houses, shopping and nightlife centers, etc.) could take two years, and the full recovery of tourism activity could take up to five years. Without tourism activity, the future of 80% of the port's labor force will be one of more poverty.
In this report we analyze the current and future toll of Hurricane Otis, the government’s response and plan of action, as well as the perspectives for the state of Guerrero, which deprived of Acapulco’s tourism (two thirds of the state’s GDP), will be an already poor region that becomes much worse off.
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