The government announced this Tuesday (26) that it will distribute 30 thousand basic baskets for families affected by the severe drought that hits Roraima, and the hiring of water trucks to provide water to municipalities affected by the lack of service. The action is part of the “Safe Summer” operation.
The state states that there is no bidding yet and, therefore, there is no defined day for the actions to begin. The forecast, however, is that the baskets will be distributed this week and the action will last around three months.
The new government measures were announced this Tuesday morning, during a press conference at the headquarters of the Roraima Fire Department, located in the Pricumã neighborhood, west of the capital Boa Vista.
In addition to the baskets, the measures include the hiring of water trucks to supply municipalities affected by water shortages. According to the general commander of the Fire Department, Colonel Anderson Carvalho de Matos, the truck process is still under bidding and therefore the number of vehicles and the municipalities they will serve have not been defined.
Throughout the state, water is distributed through rivers and artesian wells. Over the last few days, these sources have registered drops in water levels, which impacts the lives of residents of cities such as Mucajaí, Pacaraima, São João da Baliza and São Luiz — the last three “practically collapsing”.
The Rio Branco, Roraima’s main river, reached the minus 32 centimeters, the lowest level recorded in 2024, on the 15th of March. Because of this, municipalities in the interior have been facing a lack of water and the Roraima Water and Sewage Company (Caer), the company responsible for supplying it, classified the situation as a “water crisis”.
According to the government, resources worth R$10 million were requested from the National Civil Defense to combat the emergency situation in 14 of the state’s 15 municipalities. However, R$6 million was granted, which will be used to produce the baskets and rent the trucks.
Commander Anderson also said that the purchased baskets will be distributed for three months to guarantee food security for rural families affected by drought and fire.
“Resources were granted for basic food baskets and for the rental of water trucks. We requested a value considering nine municipalities, and also considering the food security of the rural population for three months, it won’t just be about getting there and giving a basic food basket and solving the problem,” he said.
Roraima has been facing a dry period since October last year, which is expected to last until April. With the lack of rain, rivers have dried up and there are forest fires that consume houses, animals and vegetation.
For the new decree, the government considered, among other things, the worsening of drought in municipalities in the south of the state, characterized by a prolonged period with rainfall below the historical average, causing several negative impacts, such as water scarcity, which generates losses to agriculture and livestock. In addition to the occurrence of forest fires and their consequent damage to fauna, flora, rural properties and affected people.
*Intern under the supervision and editing of Yara Ramalho
Tags: Government announces delivery basic food baskets rental water trucks combat effects drought Roraima Roraima
