health problems along the laredo border draft

Health Problems along the Laredo Border

These slides show conditions along the Laredo/Nuevo Laredo border area from the late 1970s to the late 1980s.

They were used in presentations by Victor Oliveros, Laredo Health Department, during that time period.

Nuevo Laredo coloniasThe demise of an active binational environmental health program, the devaluation of the peso in the early 1980s , and a large increase in population on both sides of the border led to deteriorating environment in both border cities.

Cardboard HomeSquatters or “paracaidistas” build homes from whatever they are able to find.

Colonia Volutad y Trabajo – public water faucetIt is estimated that approximately 40,000 people live in “Cardboard Town.” The water supply is very limited, perhaps with only a single faucet in the middle of each block.

Sewage in the streets of Rio Bravo, TXMost colonia homes are not hooked up to sewer lines and sewage flows freely in the streets toward the river.