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Floods render 308,000 homeless in Brazil
Worst disaster in nearly two decades claims at least 40 lives as aid groups step up efforts.
- Agencies
- Published: 22:52 May 12, 2009
Sao Luis: Brazil intensified efforts to get food and other aid to people isolated by severe flooding as waters continued rising on Monday in a jungle state nearly the size of Alaska, and the number of homeless rose to 308,000.
At least 40 people have died in the worst flooding in northern Brazil in at least two decades. Communities remained inundated despite some easing of rain.
While officials reported waters were receding in most areas, some rivers were still rising in the jungle state of Amazonas, said Dorothea de Araujo, the Amazon operations manager for the international aid group World Vision.
"The situation is very difficult because the state is so large and there are places you can't get to," she said. "Food and water are priorities because people are drinking contaminated water."
World Vision planned to send boats with supplies and doctors to help about 30 Amazon communities, she said.
In Maranhao, some roads were reopened and officials using trucks and helicopters began distributing tonnes of food, medicine, mattresses and blankets flown in on military cargo jets, Paulo Andrade, logistics coordinator for the state, said.
"Now we'll be able deliver the things that are needed: mainly food and potable water," he said.
Images from a helicopter flight over Maranhao showed towns with submerged homes and newly created lakes surrounding them.
Volunteers lined up to receive boxes of goods being distributed from a military helicopter.
The number of homeless rose by more than 7,000 to 308,455, the result of an unusual two-month siege of rain.
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