Aircraft, drones and speedboats: Uruguay agrees to send aid to RS | Policy

Rain in RS: neighboring countries send aid to Brazil

• a KC-130H plane (with crew);
• helicopter (Delfin Bell 212)
• two drones (with operators);
• rescue boats (with crew).

Rio Grande do Sul has faced more than a week of rain and river floods, which have flooded cities and killed 66 people so far. In addition, around 95,000 others are outside their homes – homeless or homeless – and around 350,000 are without electricity.

The representation of Rio Grande do Sul in Brasília contacted ambassadors from countries neighboring Brazil in recent days seeking assistance in rescue operations.

In a letter sent to the ambassador of Uruguay in Brazil, Guillermo Valles, the state governor, Eduardo Leite (PSDB), stated that the situation in Rio Grande do Sul is “serious” and that there are citizens isolated due to the floods.

“At this critical moment, our efforts must be focused on rescuing people, and the personnel made available will work together with local security forces, within the operational conditions applicable to search and rescue actions”, stated Leite in the request.

The governor also sent a document requesting help from Argentina. Leite asked for the sending of humanitarian aid teams from the ‘Cascos Blancos Commission’, a specialized group maintained by the Argentine government.

The governor asked for teams to collaborate in rescues, management of reception sites and supplies for water purification.

In a statement released on Saturday, the government of Rio Grande do Sul reported that it has also received help from other Brazilian states.

According to the local government, in total, nine states sent military personnel and vehicles to reinforce operations.

A government survey shows that there are around 200 people from Minas Gerais, Goiás, Paraná, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso and Bahia.

“The entire workforce is destined to support the state Civil Defense in rescuing people. The arrival of support from other states, which has been fundamental in expanding rescues, shows the integration in public security that we have today in the country”, said the state’s Secretary of Public Security, Sandro Caron, in a statement.