Recife, 9/12/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The World Bank - Bird - has earmarked US$3 million for poverty projects in rural areas of the state of Pernambuco which have low human development indexes. A total of 80,000 inhabitants will be benefitted.

The state secretary of Planning, Jose Arlindo Soares, reports that the funds will be used for infrastructure (building cisterns and pipelines for water supplies), education in rural schools, healthcare and farming activities.

Among the towns included in the project is Caetés, where president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was born. The region is presently going through a drought. The mayor of Caetés says that because of problems with a lack of water local farmers will be harvesting only 25% of their crops. Water is being furnished to the town by truck at the moment. (AB)