Federal Government Presence Weak in Mud Affected Disaster Areas in State of Minas Gerais

11/30/2015 - 08h49

Still immersed in mud and chaos, the epicenter of the environmental disaster in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais has seen more volunteers from churches and universities than agents from federal government institutions when it comes to providing aid to victims.

	Avener Prado/Folhapress
	Not even the mining company knows the exact breadth of the disaster

Three weeks after the rupture of the Samarco tailings dams in Mariana, federal presence is weak in the areas most affected by the tragedy, such as the districts of Bento Rodrigues, the first target of the avalanche, and Paracatu de Baixo, where the Gualaxo do Norte river continues, and marks the path followed by the mud.

Firefighters, police officers, as well as state and municipal civil defense agents are in the region, but almost exclusively use Samarco's structure and facilities, including the cars they use for transport. A control center was set up inside of the company's complex in Mariana.

Despite announcing financial assistance for the affected and declaring the incident one of the greatest environmental accidents in the history of the country, the Dilma Rousseff (Workers' Party or PT) administration has yet to mobilize federal bodies to assist the thousands afflicted by the disaster.

During three days in the region, the only sign of federal presence observed by the news team was two Ibama cars along a Mariana road.

Firefighters and agents dealing with the aftermath complain about the absence of the Union.

"The federal government was not present before, during or after the disaster", city prosecutor Guilherme Meneghin told Folha.

The federal government alleges that it is following the tragedy closely through different institutions. On Friday (27), the presidency announced that the Union and the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo would file a lawsuit for US $5 billion against Samarco, presided over by Ricardo Vescovi, and its controllers, the brazilian Vale and the Anglo Australian BHP Billiton for damages.

Vale, whose president is Murilo Ferreira, also stored waste in Fundão tailings dam, where the mud leaked.

Samarco coordinates actions in practically the entire epicenter of the disaster, in some cases going as far as isolating cases, like Bento Rodrigues, whose main entrance gained a new gate, guarded by military police officers. The site is considered a risk area.

According to Samarco, 1,265 people who lived in the affected areas were taken to hotels in the region, and 39 families, until last week, had been allocated to properties leased by the company.

Not even the mining company knows the exact breadth of the disaster triggered by the mud, which swept everything in its way until it reached the rio Doce river basin, in the namesake city, 91 km from Mariana.

ANOTHER SIDE
In a note to Folha, The Presidential Palace said that it has been present in the regions affected by the disaster since November 5th, placing itself at the disposal of the governors of the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo.

Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ

Read the article in the original language