Lula government denies that it refused aid from Uruguay to RS

The government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva did not dismiss the Uruguayan government’s offer of help in rescuing victims of the floods in Rio Grande do Sul. This is what the Presidency’s Communication Secretariat (Secom) states in a note. The ministry reported that the helicopter made available by the government of the Uruguayan president, Luis Lacalle Pou, was already working in search and rescue operations in the southern state, but admits that an aircraft offered to Brazil did not need to be used.

The news that the PT government had refused aid from the country governed by the center-right moved the opposition on social media.

Government sources from the neighboring country questioned by the Mail They said they knew that the aid was authorized by the Uruguayan government, but said they were unaware of any information about Brazil’s refusal to receive the military and aircraft that left Montevideo.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that it did not have information on the list of volunteers and support present in the state and indicated that all information is being concentrated by the military forces that carry out operational control, in Porto Alegre, of the rescue task force.

After the repercussion of the news of refusal, this Wednesday (8/5), Planalto denied the news and assured that a helicopter that was loaned by the neighboring country is already in operation in the state and has been of great importance in helping rescuers .

The note from the Presidency of the Republic also points out that support is analyzed according to the need for response from rescue teams. “The news that Brazil would have ignored help from Uruguay or any other country is false. All offers of assistance are welcome, will be analyzed according to their suitability for the urgency and will be well received.”

Finally, the government announces that Uruguay also offered a plane for transporting cargo, the Lockheed KC-130 H Hercules, which, due to its operational characteristics and the performance of the Brazilian Air Force’s Embraer kc-390 freighter fleet, , would not, at this time, meet the needs of the rescue operation.