Mexico: IACHR, through its REDESCA, expresses solidarity after the floods and calls for strengthening responses to guarantee human rights

October 17, 2025

Washington, DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), through its Office of the Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights (REDESCA), expresses its solidarity with the Mexican people and with the victims of the serious floods that have affected several states of the country in recent days, with a significant number of people dead. and thousands of victims. It also expresses its concern about the humanitarian impact of this disaster and underscores the importance of the Mexican State continuing to guarantee a response with a human rights approach.

The extraordinary rains of October 6 to 9, according to official information, caused widespread damage in five states and several of their municipalities: in Veracruz (40 municipalities, 22 with greater damage), Puebla (23 municipalities, 17 with greater damage), Hidalgo (28 municipalities, 23 of them more complicated), San Luis Potosí (12 municipalities, with emphasis on 2) and Querétaro (8 municipalities, with greater intensity in 2 of them). So far, at least 64 people have died (29 in Veracruz, 21 in Hidalgo, 13 in Puebla and one in Querétaro); and at least 65 people not located in various entities. The effects on infrastructure include interruptions in the Federal Highway Network and significant damage to vehicular bridges and basic services such as electricity and telecommunications.

The IACHR recognizes the efforts of the Mexican State in responding to this emergency, including the deployment of the Armed Forces and civil protection corps for rescue and evacuation work, as well as the direct attention of the highest authorities in the affected areas, where it has been announced that the Government will not leave anyone helpless and that a census will be carried out to channel specific support to affected families. The Inter-American Commission, based on the monitoring work of its REDESCA, welcomes these initial measures and recognizes the coordinated efforts of the different levels of government—federal, state, and municipal—to address the crisis.

The magnitude of the disaster shows the seriousness of the situation and underscores the importance of redoubling efforts in prevention, risk management, and adaptation to climate change, especially in the face of the increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the region.

In this context, international human rights standards provide for concrete actions in emergency and disaster situations. In this regard, the State must adopt all necessary and effective measures to protect the life and personal integrity of the persons affected; which includes sustaining and expanding search and rescue operations for missing persons, as well as guaranteeing emergency medical care. It is key to ensure access to dignified and safe temporary shelters with adequate basic services, and to implement effective reconstruction and, where necessary, relocation programs with a human rights approach.

Likewise, the State must guarantee access to drinking water and sanitation, food security for all affected people, the continuity of the right to education of children and adolescents, and the protection of the sources of employment and income of the affected families. These obligations must be fulfilled without discrimination, adopting a differentiated approach that considers the specific needs of vulnerable groups.

Likewise, as the REDESCA has recommended in other situations, the State must strengthen its systems of prevention, early warning and disaster risk management, incorporating perspectives of adaptation to climate change and adopting a differentiated approach that considers the specific needs of groups in vulnerable situations. The planning and execution of these measures must be based on the best available scientific evidence, with effective participation of affected communities, accountability and protection of ecosystems that fulfill flood mitigation functions.

The IACHR reiterates its solidarity with the Mexican people, the families of the victims, and all those affected by this tragedy. The Commission, in particular through its Office of the Special Rapporteur on ESCER, will remain attentive to the evolution of the situation and to the actions adopted by the Mexican State to guarantee the protection of the human rights of the affected population, and makes itself available to provide technical cooperation within the framework of its mandate.

The Office of the Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights is an office created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) with the objective of strengthening the promotion and protection of economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights in the Americas, leading the Commission's efforts in this area.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous organ of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate derives from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as an advisory body to the OAS on the matter. The IACHR is composed of seven independent members who are elected by the OAS General Assembly in their personal capacity, and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. RD214/25

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