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FROM THE FIELD

Plan assists in severe floods, Brazil
12 May 2009 14:03:00 GMT
 Source: Plan UK
Adryon Stuart/Plan UK

Website: Website: http://www.plan-uk.org/

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Flooded streets in the affected area of Brazil
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Flooded streets in the affected area of Brazil

Background

•  Latin American floods

•  Disaster risk reduction

•  South East Asia Monsoon

•  Children

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Heavy rains in rural areas of the state of Maranhão over the last twenty days have caused local rivers to rise up to 15 meters above average levels, provoking severe flooding.

Riversides, roads and bridges were carried away, leaving thousands without shelter and at risk of endemic diseases brought by contaminated water. Mud slides and insect infestations bring further threats.

Over 137,000 people in 52 municipalities have been affected by the torrential rains and flooding in Maranhao. In the state 75% of the families live on less than two dollars a day.

Numbers affected continue rising, and weather forecasts foresee even more rain for the coming days and weeks. Fifty-seven municipalities have already declared a State of Emergency. In some areas schools have been suspended to serve as shelters. Victims lack drinking water, food, clothes, mattresses, bed sheets, nappies and other basics. Government response so far has been insufficient.

Action Plan

Plan has provided US$ 100 000 from the emergencies fund to provide immediate relief assistance.

Plan Brazil has postponed regular project and sponsorship activities at PU Codó, the most affected area, to bring relief to families without shelter and under immediate risk of suffering from hunger and contracting diseases. Plan is donating kitchen and cooking utilities, mattresses, food and drinking water and other basic materials.

Plan Brazil will give social and psychological support to victims who lost their livelihood. They will advise people on risk-prevention, hygiene and food processing methods in the conditions they are temporarily living in. Plan will also help them with the necessary bureaucratic steps to get included in the governmental aid programs for food and post-disaster financial assistance.

Plan will map family homes and Plan staff will work with families to work out an action plan to mitigate the chances of the same thing happening again, including issues of environmental preservation.

Plan will help reconstruct homes and schools, in partnership with local and international organisations.


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Topics

•  Children

•  Refugees & displacement

•  Disaster risk reduction

•  Floods

•  Water

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Emergencies

•  Latin American floods

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•  Plan UK

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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

Background information

Briefings
Latin American floods - [Who works where]

Topics
Children Refugees & displacement Disaster risk reduction Floods Water
Facts & figures
Brazil

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Last updated:Tue May 19 09:54:13 2009