Caritas Brazil is calling for donations after massive flooding in the country forced over 180,000 people from their homes and left dozens of people dead.
Weeks of rains have left large areas in the north of the country under water, affecting some one million people in eight states.
The Brazilian Bishops' Conference has sent a letter to dioceses and parishes to take every opportunity to raise funds for those affected. Volunteers will be mobilized to help in the fundraising.
Caritas aims to provided those affected with mattresses, blankets, clothes, drinking water and dry food stuffs.
Local Caritas members have already swung into action, with some collecting items from their communities to give out to people who have lost their homes and possessions, whereas others have held fundraising evenings.
Ceará is the state the greatest number of affected municipalities. Over 244,000 people have been in some way touched by the rains there.
The heavy rains have caused mudslides, disrupted the transport network and caused some areas to declare a state of emergency. Some areas are without water or electricity.
The north of the country is traditionally an arid region. The current rains in states like Pará are said to be the worst in history.
At the end of last year, rains in the south of the country killed over 100 people.
Please send donations to:
Cáritas Brasileira - SOS NORTE E NORDESTE
Banco do Brasil: Agência 3475-4, c/c: 23091-X
Banco Bradesco: Agência 606, c/c: 68000-1
Caixa Econômica Federal: Agência 1041, operação 003, c/c: 935-1
Click
here for information about Caritas
and the floods (in Portughese)
For more information please contact Michelle Hough on +39 06 69879721/+39
334 2344136 or hough@caritas.va