One in Every Four Brazilian Cities Is Under State of Emergency

08/28/2017 - 09h56

Amid one of the most severe droughts registered to date in Northeastern Brazil and rainfall that left a trail of destruction at the other end of the country, in the South region, a quarter of Brazil's cities is under state of emergency.

That is the result of a survey by Folha based on data disclosed by the country's Ministry of National Integration.

In all, 1,296 cities have asked the federal government for help to deal with problems that range from scarce rain to excessive downpours. Most of the requests are due to droughts (71%) concentrated in Brazil's Northeast region and in the north of the state of Minas Gerais. t

The country suffers with storms, floods, water damage, heavy rainfall, and landslides, mainly in the South, Southeast and North regions, where 29% of the emergency situations identified by the federal government is located.

There are also cities under state of emergency due to both droughts and heavy showers. It is the case of Novo Triunfo, in the northeast of the state of Bahia - the drought was recognized by the federal government as an emergency on March 9.

The critical situation, however, went further. There was heavy rainfall at the end of the same month, on the 27th, and the city was declared under state of emergency due to the floods that destroyed sidewalks and dragged cars in the urban area.

The federal government is analyzing each case separately and could transfer funds to the cities affected by the natural distastes and allow residents to receive resources from their FGTS (Government Severance Indemnity Fund for Employees) and Bolsa Família (Family Stipend) program.

The affected City Halls may also waiver public tenders to purchase products or hire services.

The Ministry of National Integration says it transferred R$ 200 million (US$ 63 million) to the cities under emergency this year for aid, assistance, re-establishment of services, humanitarian assistance kits and recovery of damaged structures.

The ministry also says that another R$ 800 million (US$ 250 million) were spent on the Federal Water Truck operation this year, which provided water to 3.2 million people in a total of 861 cities affected by droughts.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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	Nacho Doce/Reuters
	1,296 cities have asked the federal government for help to deal with problems that range from scarce rain to excessive downpours