Brasília, January 20, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The federal government, together with the states affected by the rains, will evaluate the amount of resources to be made available to localities damaged by the flooding. According to Presidential spokesman André Singer, the head of the Presidential Civilian Advisory Staff, Minister José Dirceu, is receiving the governors to discuss the damage caused by the rains. Yesterday (19) the Minister met with the governor of Espírito Santo, Paulo Hartung, and the acting governor of Rio de Janeiro, Luiz Paulo Conde. On Wednesday (21) it will be the turn of the governor of Minas Gerais, Aécio Never, to present the Minister with reports on the consequences of the rains in his state. "After examining the situation presented by the governors, the federal government will define the amount of resources to be allocated to help these states and municipalities in a state of emergency," the spokesman declared.

Singer made it clear, however, that the government will help all states and municipalities that have suffered from the rains - not just those that had direct contacts with Minister Dirceu. The spokesman also pointed out that the government is accompanying the situation in all localities affected by flooding through the Secretariat of Civil Defense, which is linked to the Ministry of National Integration . "Clearly the governors' reports will be added to these data, in order to arrive at a picture that will allow a decision," Singer affirmed.

In the state of Minas Gerais alone, fifteen people have already been killed, and over 1,500 are homeless as a result of the rains. In all, six municipalities in Minas are in a state of public calamity, among them Caratinga, Santa Bárbara do Leste, and Ubaporanga. The rains are also causing damage in the Northeast of Brazil. In Sergipe, one of the states most affected by the rains, six people have died. In Alagoas, 36 houses were destroyed. (DAS)