Mapuche Communities Complain about Abandonment Feelings and Lack of Assistance

It is true the government of Chile is doing its best to get the situation under control.  It is doing its best to help all its citizens.  So far, some of the remote Mapuche communities have not been reached by all the government teams and supplies sent to the devastated central-south regions.  Yet, they were the most hit by the Feb. 27 quake.  The delay may be due to the remoteness of the areas or has nothing to do with the past uprisings and hijackings that were common in the areas since the Mapuche indigenous groups have formed their alliance.  Find out more about the plight of the Mapuche natives after the quake.  Everyone hopes that the government will do its best to meet these urgent needs.  At the same time, we hope that the Mapuche will lay down their arms so as to avoid any incidents.  Basic needs are the priority right now.

What Chile Needs Now

Eyewitnesses have been reporting that every market and supermarket had been looted in hard-hit Conception on Chile's mainland. With no electricity and water services, Chileans were left to fend for themselves. Looters were pillaging gas stations, pharmacies, banks and supermarkets. The police forces were overwhelmed. They were shooting water at the looters. They were doing everything they could to control the situation, but they were outgunned by the large crowd who was caught in a panic rush. That state of catastrophe pushed President Michele Bachelet to sign a decree giving the military control over security in Concepcion. The president and her team intervened by announcing that essentials on the shelves of major supermarkets would be given away for free, under the supervision of authorities who were to distribute food and water. A curfew has also been in effect from 9 P.M. to 6 A.M. That allows security personnel and emergency forces to be out on the streets to rescue and help those still caught under rubbles.

What Chile Needs Right Now:

President Michele Bachelet said that the country needs field hospitals and temporary bridges, water purification plants and damage assessment experts. Chile needs rescuers to give a break to those who have been working from Feb. 27, 2010.