Brasília, February 3, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva invited 12 Ministers yesterday (2) to the Planalto Palace to define emergency measures to assist flood victims in the states and municipalities plagued by the rains that have fallen throughout the country in recent days. According to the Minister of National Integration, Ciro Gomes, the immediate priority is to assure flood victims shelter and adequate living conditions. He said that the government is already acting to minimize the problems caused by the rains, and he guaranteed that over 38 thousand basic food baskets, medicine, and drinking water have already been distributed, and preventive medical care has been provided.
According to Gomes, President Lula determined that steps be taken to prevent families that live in areas of risk from returning to their homes. The Minister said that the government will also prohibit the reconstruction of houses in areas of risk, to avoid the repetition of tragic events in the future, and will only promote the reconstruction of houses in safe locales after the flooding abates.
The government has made R$ 32 million available so far to assist areas affected by the rains. Of this total, R$ 26 million were allocated to Civil Defense and R$ 6 million to the Ministry of Defense. According to Minister Gomes, President Lula determined that resources not be restricted in the initial phase of combatting flood damages.
The Minister estimates that the destruction of residences amounts to R$ 99 million in losses. Gomes did not reveal, however, how much the government intends to make available in the second phase of recovery efforts, when plans to rebuild victims' homes will be implemented. "The government will aid in the reconstruction effort as soon as the waters subside," Gomes affirmed.
According to figures gathered by the Ministry of National Integration, through noon, yesterday, 63,178 people are homeless (living in temporary shelters after losing their homes), 41,147 are dislodged (living in the homes of relatives or friends), 107 are injured, and 50 have died. 4,206 homes were destroyed in the 15 states that were affected, and 28,353 houses were damaged. "All the homeless are in temporary shelters. We are checking each one of the shelters to ensure a minimum of dignity to those who lost everthing," Gomes guaranteed.
The government is also counting on the support of the Army and Air Force to help flood victims. According to Gomes, the Army guaranteed the reconstruction of three bridges in the states of Pernambuco and Sergipe, and the Air Force made airplanes available to transport supplies and rescue stranded people. According to the Minister, President Lula wants to guarantee that no locale remains isolated for lack of bridges or roads.
In addition to measures to support the victims, the government also ordered a modification of the school year in the states most affected by the rains, so that children and young people are not disadvantaged. Ceará is one of the states that have already adhered to the change. Another step that the government has already put in practice is to send representatives of the Ministry of National Integration to all the stricken communities. According to Gomes, the direct presence of the government in each community permits a survey of the damages and the resources that will be necessary for the reconstruction of the cities and municipalities that were flooded.
The forecast of the National Institute of Meteorology, according to the Minister, is for the rains to slacken over the next seven days. Despite this optimistic prediction, the government does not hide its fear of the possibility of more flooding, since the height of the rainy season really comes in March and April. "The hydrographic basins of the semi-arid region have more water now at the end of January than they did during the rainy season last year. The worst prospects of rain, however, occur in March and April," Gomes warned. (DAS)
