Texas Governor Accepts Hurricane Harvey Relief From Mexico

The State Department thanked the Mexican Government for its generous offer, consisting of vehicles, food, medicine, and water to help Hurricane Harvey victims, despite the poor relations between Mexico and the United States.

Mexican officials stated they are also prepared to offer troops, medicine, portable showers and water. It was unclear if Mexican troops would accompany the relief aid. Mexico’s military has specialized civil protection units that could be mobilized due to the storms that constantly hit the country, according to experts.

“There are a huge amount of people in trouble, and we have the crews to help,” said Carlos Sada, Mexico’s Foreign Relations Ministry undersecretary to North America. He also stated that: “We are very pleased to be able to support our brothers in need on the other side of the border. If it were the other way around, I think they would help us, too.”

Aid from the Mexican government is expect to arrive in the next couple of days, as Texas Governor Greg Abbott accepted the help and stated that he was thankful to this neighbor to the South (photo: Vice News).

Rex Tillerson, U.S. Secretary of State, thanked Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray Caso after a meeting at the State Department in Washington, saying “It was very generous of Mexico to offer their help at a very, very challenging time for our citizens back in Texas.” Videgaray responded: “You’re absolutely welcome. We are here to help. We are friends. We are neighbors and that’s what friends do.”

Sada also stated that the Mexican government plans to send a caravan of 25 trailers filled with commodities including rice, beans, coffee and chocolate. Mexico also plans to send 300 beds, nine generators, water treatment equipment, three mobile kitchens, radio and satellite equipment, and personnel.

Mexico’s offer to help comes at a tricky time in its relationship with the United States, as President Trump continues to verbally attack Mexicans since his campaign last year by referring to them as rapists, murderers, and criminals. Texas governor Greg Abbott is also a Republican and a strong Trump supporter, even when the state has one of the largest population of Mexican descent in the country.

Mexico’s offer to help comes at a difficult time in the country’s relationship with the United States, as President Trump has not ceased his campaign to attack the country since his campaign days (photo: Getty images).

María Mora, a volunteer for the Mexican Red Cross, said these discrepancies don’t matter, nor where the help is needed. “One of our objectives is to mitigate human suffering.” A group from the Mexican Red Cross arrived in Houston to help distribute food.

It’s not the first time Mexico has sent hurricane relief aid to the United States. In 2005, a Mexican army convoy crossed the border to help Hurricane Katrina victims, and Mexico is sending help North again as it faces its own problems from Lidia, the tropical storm that destroyed infrastructure and claimed lives after striking Baja California on Friday.

President Trump hasn’t commented on Mexico’s offer to help, as he kept tweeting on about the wall he wants Mexicans to pay for while Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston.