A year ago, the world watched in disbelief as the modern city of Porto Alegre, Brazil, was submerged in one of the worst floods in its history. Between 29 April and 4 May 2024, it rained non-stop in the south of the country.
Bridges collapsed, roads were washed away and stadiums were covered by water that almost reached the level of traffic lights. Entrances to public transport stations, schools and hospitals were invisible.
Just a few weeks later, in June, new rains exacerbated the crisis. In total, more than 2.3 million people were affected, 182 died and more than 422,000 were forced to leave their homes.
In the face of this emergency, the IFRC activated an Emergency Appeal, in order to expand the humanitarian response of the Brazilian Red Cross. Thanks to this effort, more than 14,000 people have received humanitarian assistance.
As part of its humanitarian response, the Red Cross has distributed hygiene, cleaning and household disinfection items; and facilitated access to health services. In these first 12 months after the emergency:
- Nearly 5,000 people received comprehensive health care and first aid training.
- More than 4,500 people received hygiene and cleaning kits, jerrycans to store water and filters to make it safe to drink.
- About 7,200 people in nine communities received items such as mosquito nets, tarpaulins, solar lamps, kitchen sets, blankets and tool kits to repair homes.
In addition, throughout the recovery process, the Red Cross has offered psychosocial support, information to prevent disease and a key service: cash transfers.
Cash in hand to decide with autonomy
In times of crisis, every family has different needs. While some prioritise buying food, others need to repair their homes or pay off accumulated debts.
This is why cash assistance is so important. Rather than receiving pre-selected items, families can choose where to spend the money based on their most pressing needs. Nobody knows them better than they do.
By shopping at local markets, sales are restored and flood-affected businesses are able to purchase new stock and generate employment. This also supports the recovery of the socioeconomic backbone of the communities affected by the disaster.
In southern Brazil, the cash transfer program began its pilot phase in July 2024. Priority was given to single-parent households with children under seven years old, the elderly, people with disabilities and/or chronic diseases, families affected by the floods in Porto Alegre and the metropolitan area, as well as in the Serra area.
The articulation of the IFRC team deployed for the immediate response with the Brazilian Red Cross branches has been fundamental to reach the most vulnerable families, strengthen the capacities of local volunteers and move towards the recovery of the affected populations.
‘An important aspect of this flood response operation in Rio Grande do Sul is our close collaboration with the Red Cross to identify local partners,’ comments Roxana Trigo Ballivian, IFRC Operations Manager for the emergency.
‘One example is the Women in Construction Institute, a local NGO that identified women heads of households affected by the floods in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre.’
Thanks to the Red Cross's relationship with community actors, collaborating with this organisation's leaders enabled 215 households headed by women in Canoas to receive monetary assistance.
To date, over 4,800 people have received financial assistance to meet their most urgent needs.
How do families invest financial assistance?
The families who receive assistance are free to decide how to use it. The Red Cross only maintains contact with them to receive recommendations on future deliveries, improve the experience of communities using our services, and ensure they are not exposed to any risks as a result of receiving this assistance.
Six months after implementing this programme, we anonymously asked about the main uses of the money received. The majority of families invested in purchasing food and water, making home repairs, buying furniture, paying for basic services and paying off debts.
Other expenses included buying clothes, medicines and hygiene products, paying rent, sending remittances to relatives and funeral costs.
"Cash assistance is an innovative approach that, in addition to being a practical solution, promotes personal autonomy while empowering communities and reviving local markets," explains Trigo.