Aid arrives for Mexico’s earthquake victims

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Help is finally arriving for some survivors of the worst earthquake to hit Mexico in over a century as some citizens brought food from a neighboring state, enough to feed hundreds.

Many are resting at the Technological Institute of the Isthmus. It has become a temporary shelter for families left homeless following Thursday’s massive earthquake.

Dozens of families have come with their children, and even some pets, because this is a safe place that provides them with shelter, food, water and other services.

The night of the earthquake, Jocelin Gomez and her family were asleep. Her five-week old baby, Jose Daniel, was at her side as their home came tumbling down.

When the ground stopped shaking, they returned to their broken home and found their puppy, Pinky, covered in dust - he had been hit by a falling ceramic roof tile.

Torres says they’re glad to be alive, but they’re just now coming to grips with the fact they are homeless.

“We’re not very comfortable, but we are fine. It’s better than having to stay in the street, because many people are living in the street outside their homes. It’s difficult,” she says,

The Mexican government sent mobile health units to the most affected areas. They’re staffed with doctors, nurses and psychologists.

Mexico’s National Social Security Coordinator, Fringe Azuara, is in the temporary shelter directing this free service to survivors.

“From the day after the earthquake, the most common ailment we have been attending to is nervous breakdowns,” she said. “Obviously, many people were very nervous, some in panic and they were very afraid. Our healthcare workers came to help them feel calm and attend to them.”

It’s nearly impossible to calculate the full loss out of the disaster, which destroyed thousands of homes, businesses and even a few colonial-era structures.

The sound of children playing together provides a bit of comfort, and a sign that life here is slowly returning to normal.