OPERATION USA PARTNERS WITH UNIDOS POR ELLOS
TO AID VICTIMS OF SOUTH MEXICO FLOODS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOS ANGELES (November 7, 2007) Operation USA is partnering with Unidos por Ellos, an experienced disaster outreach organization of Universidad Anahuac in Mexico City that has brought together many of Mexico's largest national and foreign corporations in response to various massive natural disasters including the Asian Tsunami, Hurricanes Stan and Wilma, and now the Tabasco and Chiapas floods.

One of the worst natural disasters in Mexico's history, floods have left nearly one million people displaced, destroyed 100 percent of crops and left 80 percent of the state of Tabasco under water. In addition, a major mudslide has buried a neighboring village in Chiapas, leaving 100 homes destroyed and at least 16 people feared dead. With all of the area's hospitals and medical centers affected, flood victims are left with little to no access to healthcare. It is particularly crucial as submergence in the stagnant water has left people vulnerable to colds, respiratory illnesses, and fungal infections, and at risk of more serious waterborne diseases like cholera and dengue, all of which can be transmitted through contaminated water.

Unidos por Ellos is sending medical teams into the impacted areas of Tabasco and Chiapas. The current medical needs to aid the flood victims include purified water, basic food supplies, antibiotics, anti-fungal creams, baby food and formula, new clothing, shelter materials and, especially new toys. Operation USA is seeking funding for transportation, purchases of appropriate materials and for post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation projects, as well as contacts with U.S. corporations for donations of bulk, uniform quantities of appropriate medical, nutritional, hygiene and shelter supplies, such as tents, blankets, water purifucation materials and power generation equipment. As with every disaster, Operation USA asks the public to refrain from collections of used clothing and other inappropriate materials.

"We previously partnered with Operation USA after the 1985 Mexico City earthquake and were very impressed by their releif and recovery work," said Adrian De Lope, Director, Unidos por Ellos. "Operation USA will serve as a reliable liason for Unidos por Ellos for the Mexican-American community on the West Coast in order to gather aid to be sent down here."

Media Contact:
Richard Walden, Neil Frame or Christine Oppenheim
Phone: 310-838-3455 or 800-678-7255
email: coppenheim@opusa.org or nframe@opusa.org