Cáritas Brasileira, through Cáritas Regional Rio Grande do Sul, in collaboration with Cáritas International (CI) and Cáritas United States (CRS), is carrying out an Emergency Action in Rio Grande do Sul due to the floods that have affected the state since the beginning of May.

Since 05/22, a team of agents from the National Secretariat of Cáritas Brasileira and CRS has been in the municipality of Canoas, 14 km from Porto Alegre, to survey needs, plan and execute actions aimed at mitigating the impacts of the rains on the affected people.

Get to know the local reality

On the 22nd and 24th, it was established a planning space, facilitated by local partners, at the Universidad del Sentido y Pastoral Universitaria of Unilasalle Canoas. During this occasion, the teams met with Moisés Waismann (professor of the PPG in Social Memory and Cultural Assets/UNILASALLE), Felipe Almeida (organizer of the Universidad del Sentido y la Pastoral Universitaria/UNILASALLE) and social workers from UNISINOS to discuss the historical and socioeconomic analysis of Canoas and the situation of the people welcomed and sheltered after the floods.

On the 22nd and 24th, a stage was carried out initial training and planning, facilitated by local partners, at the Universidad del Sentido y Pastoral Universitaria de Unilasalle Canoas. During this phase, the teams participated in training and planning sessions with Moisés Waismann (PPG professor in Social Memory and Cultural Assets/UNILASALLE), Felipe Almeida (organizer of the Universidad del Sentido y la Pastoral Universitaria/UNILASALLE) and social workers from UNISINOS.

The objective of these meetings was to debate the historical and socioeconomic analysis of Canoas and the situation of the people welcomed and sheltered after the floods. The opening was attended by Brother Cledes Casagrande (Rector) and Brother Eucledes Casagrande (Vice-Rector), of UNILASALLE.

Public policies and joint efforts

For the executive secretary of Cáritas Regional Rio Grande do Sul, Jacira Dias, it is time for all organizations and people to mobilize solidarity for the most immediate needs. Most of the affected people need everything and a factor that makes the situation even more complex is the cold climate of the region.

We know that, being such a large contingent, we do not have the material means to help everyone, but it is about reaching out to the people who need it most, who have historically been wronged and, at this moment, are even more vulnerable.

Jacira also emphasizes that at this time it is important to work on public policies that seek an effective commitment to the protection of the environment, to the care of the slopes, the rivers, with the recovery of nature as a whole and working on public policies that help families live safely. "We need public policies that take into account the reality of climate disasters and today they are still very much in the realm of rhetoric and the immediate, and do not address the structural issues that really provide the conditions for families to live well, to live safely."

The executive director of Cáritas Brasileira, Valquíria Lima, highlights that since the beginning of this great climate catastrophe, various humanitarian response actions have been carried out with the member entities and the various instances of the Church in Brazil. "We are also raising awareness among our international allies, the Caritas International Network, to support and act in the face of this great tragedy that has hit the population of Rio Grande do Sul. So we already have the support of very important international emergency programs, which at this moment are making it possible for families in Rio Grande do Sul to be assisted with multi-use cards, in which they receive an amount and define which is the highest priority to use."

Among the allies that have already undertaken efforts to This first is Caritas of the United Kingdom (CAFOD), through the START emergency program, CRS with the BHA, which is the Development and Emergency Agency of the United States government.

What is specifically expected with the needs study is to develop a solid and cohesive proposal, based on the needs of the most vulnerable families for this time of reconstruction, and together with Cáritas International, open an international emergency call. "All of these humanitarian response actions that we are carrying out are part of our MAGRE area of ​​action, which has always been an area of ​​Cáritas Brasileña's very own identity and which has always been involved in humanitarian response actions to major emergency actions."

Like Jacira, Valquíria also warns of the need for public policies based on what is being experienced in the south of Brazil.

It is a great warning of the need for adequate public policies, prevention, risk management, a change in the way of understanding development and, above all, a more attentive and precise look at the most vulnerable populations, who are always the most affected by major climate catastrophes. It is to these populations that we direct our attention at this time.

It is possible to make international donations to help in the reconstruction of Rio Grande do Sul after the tragedy of the floods. Your contribution is essential to support the efforts. Discover how to help.

With information and photographs from Cáritas Brasileira