Brasília, 3/31/2004 (Agência Brasil) - The Ministry of Health has sent almost eight tons of medicines to the state of Santa Catarina where 22 municipalities were damaged by an unusual cyclone over the weekend.

The medicines: antibiotics, painkillers, anti-inflamatories and for dealing with shock and waterborne diseases, are being distributed in kits that are sufficient for 3,000 people for a month.

Santa Catarina civil defense authorities report that the cyclone left 3,500 people homeless, while another 13,000 were forced to temporarily abandon their homes. (Translator: Allen Bennett)