Northeast Brazil Hit by Floods; CRS Emergency Response UnderwayCatholic Relief Services Rainfall on a scale unseen in Brazil in half a century has caused widespread flooding throughout the Northeast. The floods have destroyed homes and infrastructure and left tens of thousands in immediate need of shelter, food and medicines. Forecasters are predicting severe rains will continue in the region for at least the next 10 days. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has responded with financial support for emergency workers located in the affected areas.  "The scope of the damage is already apparent in the larger towns and villages," said Peter Rothrock, CRS Country Representative for Brazil, "but there are thousands of small, rural communities that are at risk of being isolated by the rising waters." CRS is working with Caritas Brazil to assess the damage in the states of Pernambuco, Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Paraíba, Piauí and Ceará and to plan a coordinated response for immediate and longer term needs. Estimates provided by the government of Brazil indicate more than 100,000 people have been affected by the flooding, a number that is likely to go up as the rains continue and the rainy season (typically February through May) sets in. The agency is allocating $50,000 to provide for the immediate needs of flood victims such as temporary shelter, food, clean water, bedding, personal hygiene items, and basic medicines. The fifth largest country in the world, Brazil has a population of 180 million people. Approximately 24 million Brazilians live in extreme poverty (less than $1 a day) and—according to the Brazilian bishops—55 million go hungry. CRS has worked in Brazil since 1993, with a primary focus on the Northeast, the poorest and least developed region of the country. Programming includes responding to basic water needs, HIV/AIDS, agrarian reform and human rights. Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community. The agency provides assistance to people in 94 countries and territories on the basis of need, not race, creed or nationality. To contribute to Catholic Relief Services efforts, send donations to: Brazil Flooding Response
For more information, or to contact Catholic Relief Services, see their website at: www.catholicrelief.org |
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