According to Civil Defense, 341 of the 497 cities in Rio Grande do Sul were affected by the rains; the measure was published in an extra edition of “DOU”
The government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) recognized on Sunday (May 5, 2024) a state of public calamity in 265 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul affected by the rains hitting the State.
With this measure, the transfer of emergency resources is facilitated. Here is the full decree published in an extra edition of DOU (Official Gazette of the Union) (PDF – 458 kB). It is signed by the National Secretary for Civil Protection and Defense, Wolnei Wolff Barreiros.
According to the State’s Civil Defense, in the latest bulletin published at 6pm, 341 of the 497 cities in Rio Grande do Sul and more than 800,000 people were affected by the storms recorded since Sunday (April 28). The number of deaths rose to 78 and there are still 105 missing.
On Thursday (May 2), the federal government recognized a state of public calamity in the state, after governor Eduardo Leite (PSDB) decreed the status.
The toucan has been asking for financial help from the Union. This Sunday (May 5), he requested the suspension of payment of the monthly installment of the State’s debt for the period that the reconstruction of the damage caused by the rains lasts. The request is part of the planning to restore infrastructure and boost the local economy. The State’s debt to the Union is R$3.5 billion.
Leite also called for exceptionality in sending resources to the State and said that fiscal restrictions hinder the state’s work in the region. He also spoke of the need for a “Marshall Plan” for the State to be rebuilt, in reference to the help offered by the United States for the reconstruction of European countries affected in the Second World War (1939-1945).
MOBILIZATION IN RS
Lula returned to Rio Grande do Sul this Sunday (May 5) to monitor the damage caused by the tragedy. She had a meeting with Leite and the mayor of Porto Alegre, Sebastião Melo (MDB). The presidents of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), and of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), the president of the TCU (Federal Audit Court), Bruno Dantas, and the vice-president of the STF (Supreme Court Federal), Minister Edson Fachin, participated. Another 13 of the 38 ministers as well.
On the occasion, the president said that the government will help rebuild the roads destroyed by the impacts of the rains. In his previous visit to the State, on Thursday (May 2), he said that there will be no shortage of efforts or resources on the part of the government to assist in the situation.
According to figures shared on social media by the Civil House, headed by Rui Costa, the federal Executive made R$928 million available via the Ministry of Social Development for RS:
- R$414 million: advance payment of Bolsa Família;
- R$355.7 million: BPC (Continuous Payment Benefit);
- R$50 million: PAA (Food Acquisition Programming);
- R$46 million: Rural Development;
- R$ 18.8 million: Advance and co-financing Rede Suas (Single Social Assistance System)
- R$ 18.7 million: Gas Aid;
- R$15.4 million: 97,000 basic food baskets; It is
- R$ 10 million: Shelter Assistance.
