Ministry authorizes summary release of resources for cities in Rio Grande do Sul

An ordinance from the Ministry of Regional Integration and Development exempts the presentation of work plans for the immediate release of resources for relief and assistance to flood victims in Rio Grande do Sul. According to the text, published in Official Diary of the Unionthe transfers are R$200,000 for municipalities with up to 50,000 inhabitants, R$300,000 for those with up to 100,000 inhabitants and R$500,000 for those with more than 100,000.

“This is a value for immediate help. This does not mean that there will not be other values, based on the plans [de trabalho]. This is to ensure, we need people in shelters to have water, food, shelter, chemical bathroom, hygiene material”, said, on the afternoon of this Wednesday (8), in Porto Alegre, the minister of the Secretariat of Communication Social (Secom) of the Presidency of the Republic, Paulo Pimenta, one of the coordinators of the federal government’s response to the floods in Rio Grande do Sul.

According to the national secretary of Civil Defense, Wolney Wolff, resources must be requested by letter, without a work plan, with summary release by the government, in Caixa Econômica Federal accounts. The money can be used to purchase water, kits cleaning, food and fuel, among others. “The mayor felt very comfortable making the purchase immediately to support the population in need,” he said.

In a press conference today in Porto Alegre, to update assistance actions for the affected population, the federal government also cited the approval of work plans for 27 municipalities, which will receive R$22 million in resources for Civil Defense, in resources with authorization ongoing expense. R$12 million will also be committed (authorized) this Wednesday so that the state government can purchase fuel and supply 40 helicopters that are being used to rescue the victims. There is also R$1.6 million for the supply and rental of trucks, tractors and other machines.

“We will maintain this work throughout the humanitarian aid period and then we will maintain these offices [do governo federal] assisting with issues of reestablishment and reconstruction, which is the biggest challenge”, stated the Minister of Regional Integration and Development, Waldez Góes.