欧美文化:Mexican gov't unveils support plan for Hurricane Otis victims

MEXICO CITY, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday unveiled a support and recovery plan for the victims of Hurricane Otis, the strongest storm ever to make landfall in the Pacific Coast state of Guerrero.

The General Plan for Reconstruction and Support for the Population centers on Acapulco, a top tourism destination, and on the nearby city of Coyuca de Benitez, both devastated by Otis on Oct. 25.

The federal government will also earmark up to 61 billion pesos (around 3.4 billion U.S. dollars) to implement the plan.

"We have the budget to finance all these needs and programs; we do not consider the allocation of these resources an expense, but an investment," Lopez Obrador said at his daily press conference.

The 20-step plan prioritizes the ongoing search for missing persons, speeds up the flow of resources for welfare programs for the elderly and people with disabilities, and looks to support local producers and fishermen.

It suspends charges for electricity from November 2023 to February 2024, and calls for the delivery of basic foods to the estimated 250,000 families impacted by the storm.

In addition, credits will be granted for housing repairs and a package of household goods will be delivered to the victims, which includes bed, stove, fan and set of dishes, among other items, Lopez Obrador said.