Ministers announce release of emergency funds to municipalities, delivery of 220 water purifiers

BALANCE— Secretary Wolnei Wolff highlighted the signing of Ordinance 1,466/2024, which will simplify and accelerate fund transfers to affected cities. The measure authorizes the immediate release of federal resources for relief actions and victim assistance, establishing population ranges, each contemplated with a maximum of resources to be released: Range 1 (up to 50,000 people - BRL 200,000), Range 2 (from 50,001 to 100,000 people - BRL 300,000) and Range 3 (more than 100,000 people - BRL 500,000).

RESOURCES — Secretary Wolnei Wolff highlighted the signing of Ordinance 1,466/2024, which will simplify and accelerate fund transfers to affected cities. The measure authorizes the immediate release of federal resources for relief actions and victim assistance, establishing population ranges, each contemplated with a maximum of resources to be released: Range 1 (up to 50,000 people - BRL 200,000), Range 2 (from 50,001 to 100,000 people - BRL 300,000) and Range 3 (more than 100,000 people - BRL 500,000).

FOOD — The president of Conab, Edegar Pretto, highlighted that a provisional decree (medida provisória) is being prepared for the importation of rice from Mercosur countries—mainly to supply the North, Northeast and Southeast regions of Brazil. Pretto said that, while part of the national rice production hasn’t been harvested yet, 15% has been lost to the flood, and the government is still assessing how much of the rice crop in storage may have suffered flood damage.

“The President ordered Conab to import 1 million tons of rice. We are watching the producers in our country very carefully, and we are mindful of their situation; this [the rice imports] will not compete with local production, and we will fine tune this [importation] as needed,” he stated.

NAVAL SUPPORT — This week, the Port of Rio Grande (RS) will receive three Brazilian Navy vessels that will join flood relief efforts across the state. The Atlântico Multipurpose Aircraft Ship (Navio-Aeródromo Multipropósito Atlântico/A140), which is considered Latin America’s largest naval vessel, will arrive on Saturday, May 11. The ships will bring military personnel to the worst affected regions, with support from other, smaller vessels in evacuating residents from flooded areas.

The Atlântico is equipped with an intensive care unit (with two beds), a thermal bath for heating and cooling, a trauma treatment room, a surgical center, a dental office, a laboratory, two doctors' offices, an infirmary with eight beds, a full pharmacy, a reception area and a waiting room.

FOOD BASKETS – The 52 thousand food baskets sent by Brazil’s Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger (MDS) and Conab to the population affected by the floods in Rio Grande do Sul have already begun to arrive at the storage unit in Canoas. BRL 8.39 million in resources have been committed to purchasing the food. The first 1,500 food baskets arrived in the state on Tuesday (7). This Wednesday (8), another 3 thousand were delivered. From then on, 4,500 baskets will be transported daily to the state until the total is reached. The schedule depends on weather and road conditions in the state.

HEALTH– The Brazilian Ministry of Health authorized the transfer of BRL 63.1 million, in a single tranche, from the National Health Fund to state and municipal health authorities in Rio Grande do Sul. Ordinance 3,750, published this Wednesday, lists hundreds of municipalities that will receive the funds to prevent and mitigate the risk of disease, especially for the displaced populations, which are especially vulnerable.

Brazil’s National Health Service (Serviço Único de Saúde-SUS) brought 44 specialists to Rio Grande do Sul. There are plans to install six more field hospital modules over the coming days and to deliver emergency kits and medical and immunobiological supplies. The delivery of oxygen to the assistance points is being monitored.

A partnership with leading manufacturers of sanitary pads is underway to enable donations of 200,000 units to the state, in addition to other personal hygiene items. A new request to send 50 kits with medications and other medical supplies is being processed.

SUPPLY LINES – In the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, 408,000 homes are without water. Seven cities are experiencing either partial or complete water shortages: Alvorada, Esteio, Sapucaia do Sul; Viamão; Canoas; Cachoeirinha; and Gravataí. The municipalities of Guaíba and Eldorado do Sul’s supply system was normalized with the help of a generator. Canoas gradually resumed supply on Tuesday night (7).

In Northeast Rio Grande do Sul, 75,000 homes across 21 cities are experiencing either total or partial water shortages; 37 water trucks are serving the region, and 17 reservoirs have been installed at strategic spots. In the central region, 47,000 properties are currently without water, with an additional 11 cities experiencing partial water shortages. In Agudo, Arroio do Tigre and Silveira Martins, a generator has been deployed to maintain proper water supply; 20 water trucks have been deployed in the region. In Vale dos Sinos, 12,000 properties are without water.

PORTO ALEGRE – 45 water trucks are operating in the metropolitan region; 50 water stations have been installed at strategic spots; and 70 water have been providing water to local residents. Sanitation companies from São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Minas Gerais are sending teams to help restore the water infrastructure.

THE ARMED FORCES — More than 11,700 Armed Forces servicemen and women – 9,100 from the Army, 1,300 from the Navy and 1,300 from the Air Force – have already carried out 52,000 rescues since the beginning of the relief effort in Rio Grande do Sul. Altogether, 38,400 land rescues, 7,900 river rescues, and 5,700 air rescues have been carried out.

Logistics include 93 boats and other vessels, one ship, 348 vehicles, 56 engineering equipment, four fixed-wing aircraft, and 17 helicopters.

FEDERAL HIGHWAYS — The National Land Transportation Agency (ANTT) published an ordinance that waives tolls and expedites the flow of donations, supplies, and equipment. The measures include priority services and exemption from inspection on federally concessioned highways, facilitating the road transportation of people, relief materials and donations.

The National Department of Transportation Infrastructure (DNIT) is working with 600 staff and 200 pieces of heavy equipment to clear the main blockages on Rio Grande do Sul's roads. There are currently 42 road blockages, 21 of which have already been cleared. Among the most significant outcomes of this effort this Wednesday were the clearing of six roadblocks on BR-386 highway near Pouso Novo and Lajeado, and another on BR-471 near the access to Ramiz Galvão in Rio Pardo.

DNIT is focused on clearing up road corridors for the the delivery of equipment, supplies and humanitarian aid. This itinerary begins at BR-116 in São Leopoldo, crosses BR-448 to Arena Grêmio, down BR-290/RS and through Ponte do Guaíba, and leading to two destinations: Santa Maria, via BR-290, and Pelotas, via BR-116.

POWER — Between May 7 and 8, the number of consumer units disconnected from the power grid in the state dropped from 448,000 to 422,000, many for security reasons, because the flood made maintenance impossible. The peak was 561,000 disconnections since the beginning of the crisis. 162 municipalities are currently affected.

FAKE NEWS — The Federal Attorney General's Office (AGU) filed a lawsuit this Wednesday against Brazilian digital influencer Pablo Marçal. The agency also issued an extrajudicial notification to X (formerly Twitter) ordering it to add a clarification note in posts that accuse the Union of paying for Madonna's show in Rio de Janeiro, informing that no federal payments were made for that event. The lawsuit follows videos that went viral on Instagram and TikTok, where Marçal said that the Brazilian Armed Forces were not deployed in response to the public calamity hitting Rio Grande do Sul.

AIRPORT – Salgado Filho Airport remains closed indefinitely, with no plans for reopening. There is no land access to the terminal. As an alternative, the Canoas Air Base was opened for commercial flights through a partnership between the Ministry of Ports and Airports, FAB, the National Civil Aviation Agency and airlines.

WEATHER – Studies by the Brazilian Geological Survey (Serviço Geológico do Brazil - SGB) indicate that the Guaíba River will remain above the flood level (3 meters) until next week. However, it may remain above 4 meters until around Saturday (11). More intense rainfall is anticipated for the region, which could result in delayed water drainage and a heightened risk of elevation during the process. The National Institute of Meteorology (Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia – Inmet) alert system has issued six weather alerts for drops in temperature, gales and storms across the state of Rio Grande do Sul. These alerts are in effect until Thursday morning (9).