Brasília, 3/24/2004 (Agência Brasil) - Yesterday the government released an additional US$ 14.08 million (R$ 41.5 million) for the reconstruction of homes damaged by rains this year. A total of 6,394 homes in 152 locations will be rebuilt.

Last week the government released US$11.34 million (R$33.7 million) for flood victims. The Civil Defense Secretariat estimates that 17,000 homes were destroyed by floods this year. One of the requirements for receiving government home rebuilding assistance is that the homes cannot be built in areas at risk of flooding in the future. (translator: Allen Bennett)