Brasília, 2/6/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has ordered the minister of Cities, Olívio Dutra, and the national secretary for Housing, Jorge Hereda, to make a survey of the destruction by recent torrential rains and begin the reconstruction of homes lost to flooding.

Yesterday that work began in Piaui, and continues today in Sergipe.

On Wednesday, Lula himself visited Piaui and said that more than rain was to blame. "There has been too much rain. That is for sure. But we also have a historical problem in our country. We have people living where they should not be living. They live in areas of great risk. They live in holes that fill up with water whenever it rains. Somebody made money selling lots where there shouldn't be any lots," said the president.

The president has also signed a decree cutting the red tape for emergency assistance. It will now be possible for local officials to communicate directly with the Ministry of National Integration in cases of emergency or calamity. (AB)