SILVER SPRING, Md. -In southeastern Brazil, residents are struggling to recover from recent torrential rains that fell in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Rio de Janeiro, causing heavy flooding and landslides, and forcing thousands from their homes, reported the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).
"Currently it is the rainy season in Brazil, so it is normal to experience a lot of rain," said Marcelo Cardoso, ADRA director for the South Brazil region. "However, lately, it seems that every year the rains become more intense and cause more damage."
In the western Rio Grande do Sul city of Alegrete, which was severely affected by the rains, ADRA assisted rural families displaced to government shelters. As part of the aid, ADRA distributed baskets stocked with basic food items, such as rice, beans, oil, flour, sugar, salt, and tomato sauce for 200 families that were evacuated from their homes. Each basket provided a family of five with enough food to last them for five days.
In addition, targeted families also received bedding materials, such as mattresses and bed linens, as many were forced to flee their homes without the most basic necessities.
The response is coordinated by ADRA's South Brazil office in cooperation with the ADRA Rio Grande do Sul state office, and through the local Municipality of Alegrete, and the Civil Defense of the State of Rio Grande do Sul.
The initial response is funded by ADRA International, the ADRA South American Regional office, and the ADRA South Brazil and ADRA East Rio Grande do Sul offices.
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To send your contribution to ADRA's Emergency Response Fund, please contact ADRA at 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) or give online at www.adra.org.
ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race or ethnicity.
For more information about ADRA, visit www.adra.org.