Mexico

In 2005 we established our first office in Mexico City. Since then, our team has grown and expanded to other countries.

Why did we start in México?

After the devastating impact of Hurricane Stan in Chiapas, five friends—Benjamin Laniado, Fernando Mitrani, Isaac Levy (Chapis), José Cattan, and Ari Syrquin—decided to organize and bring aid to the disaster zone. This call to help led to the founding of CADENA, which now operates internationally responding to disasters and crises.

Due to its geological characteristics, Mexico is a territory prone to various natural phenomena, including hurricanes, earthquakes, heavy rains, landslides, and volcanic activity. In addition, it is home to a large number of vulnerable communities.

For this reason, CADENA Mexico continues to support vulnerable populations affected by disasters and crises on multiple fronts, ranging from emergency response to prevention and resilience programs.

In 2025, CADENA was recognized among the top 10 humanitarian organizations in Mexico for its disaster response work and its sustained social impact.

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Key interventions

Sierra Tarahumara

Since 2006, CADENA has returned to the Sierra Tarahumara, Chihuahua, each time with the same objective: to build bridges of solidarity and deliver aid directly to vulnerable communities in Mexico. From CADENA, and with the help of local partners, we provide direct support, ensuring that every food basket, every consultation, and every blanket reaches those who need it most.

To date, we have benefited more than 130,000 people throughout the state.

Floods 2025

In October, heavy rains and flooding affected several communities in Mexico. States such as Tabasco, Veracruz, Guerrero, and Chiapas faced prolonged flooding, damage to homes, disruptions to basic services, and the evacuation of thousands of families.

In response to this situation, CADENA activated its emergency response to support the most vulnerable families. We distributed food baskets, hygiene kits, and essential items, in addition to providing medical and dental consultations to prevent health risks arising from the emergency.

Hurricane Otis 2023

In late October 2023, Hurricane Otis devastated a large area of the state of Guerrero, leaving numerous families in a critically vulnerable situation, with damaged homes and loss of essential belongings.

In response, CADENA, together with its partners, developed a comprehensive humanitarian action project that provided aid in the form of food baskets, hygiene kits, cleaning kits, health brigades, and home rehabilitation through roof repairs.

Covid-19 Pandemic 2020

When COVID-19 was first reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), perhaps no one imagined that, months later, the disease would lead to border closures, lockdowns, business closures, and a collapse of the tourism and manufacturing sectors.

In response, to help contain the pandemic, CADENA focused on acts of solidarity, taking preventative measures to provide assistance safely. We donated protective clothing kits to staff at hospitals, clinics, and centers treating COVID-19 patients and delivered food to alleviate the collateral damage of the pandemic, such as job losses and the overall economic hardship.

Earthquake 2017

Thirty-two years after the 1985 earthquake, a tremor with its epicenter between Puebla and Morelos struck Mexico. The disaster left 369 people dead, more than 40 buildings collapsed, and millions homeless.

Our team of 32 rescuers worked in 10 collapsed buildings, where 8 people were rescued alive and another 20 were located to support other rescue teams. From our operations center at Veracruz 62, Condesa, we delivered supplies to facilitate the rescues. We also distributed food, supplies, and hygiene items to victims and shelters in the affected states.

We set up 2,801 shelters and 800 temporary classrooms to ensure dignified living and educational conditions during the reconstruction. In addition, we rebuilt, repaired, and rehabilitated 219 homes in Miguel Hidalgo, Chiapas; a health center; two school classrooms; and a school in Jojutla, Morelos.

Our team

Liora Pupko

President CADENA Mexico

liora@cadena.ngo

Joaquín Llado

Director of Strategic Alliances and Fundraising of Mexico

joaquin@cadena.ngo

Orly Romano

GoTeam Rescue Team Coordinator

goteam@cadena.ngo

Xanitzin Albarrán

Administrative Coordinator

coordinacion_administrativa@cadena.ngo

Jessica Rodríguez

Internal Comptroller Coordinator

coord_admin@cadena.ngo

Sebastián Hernández

Finance Assistance

aux_finanzas@cadena.ngo

Alberto Aguilar

Director of Purchasing and Logistics

logistica@cadena.ngo

José Lomas

Head of Yavne Logistics Centre

op@cadena.ngo

Alejandro Podbilewicz

Educational Experience Manager

gestion.ed@cadena.ngo

Alan Akerman

Intern at CADENA Dental

cadena_dentistas@cadena.ngo

Examplo

Editor Ingles

ejemplo@mail.com

Sarai Cruz

Humanitarian Operations Directorate Mexico

ophumanitarias_mexico@cadena.ngo

Monica Huerta

Administrative Management Mexico

direccionadmin.mexico@cadena.ngo

Itzel Gonzalez

Strategic Alliances Coordination Mexico

alianzas@cadena.ngo

Eluzay Hernandez

Humanitarian Operations Coordination Mexico

ohmx@cadena.ngo

Betsabé Vázquez

Health and Resilience Coordination

saludyresiliencia@cadena.ngo

Nicole Urow

Humanitarian Training Coordination

formacion_humanitaria@cadena.ngo

Liat Duque

Academic Coordination

proyectos.ed@cadena.ngo

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Expert Board

En 2005, tras el paso devastador del huracán Stan en Chiapas, cinco amigos: Benjamin Laniado, Fernando Mitrani, Isaac Levy (Chapis), José Cattan y Ari Syrquin, decidieron organizar y llevar ayuda a la zona del desastre.

Este llamado a ayudar resultó en la fundación de CADENA, que ahora opera internacionalmente respondiendo a desastres y crisis.

Debido a sus características geológicas, México es un territorio susceptible a diversos fenómenos, incluyendo huracanes, sismos, lluvias intensas, deslaves y actividad volcánica. Además, cuenta con una gran cantidad de poblaciones vulnerables.

México recibe a miles de personas en situación de movilidad que buscan transitar hacia Estados Unidos. Las personas en movilidad se exponen a riesgos de seguridad y salud, además de falta de acceso a servicios básicos.

Por eso, en CADENA México seguimos atendiendo a poblaciones vulnerables en desastres y crisis en múltiples frentes, desde atención a emergencias hasta programas de prevención y resiliencia.