Floods Reach Southwestern Bahia and Mobilize Church Assistance Forces

Warm sets are sent by ADRA to serve people in vulnerable situations. [Photo Courtesy of the South American Division]

South American Division

Floods Reach Southwestern Bahia and Mobilize Church Assistance Forces

Solidarity initiative involves the distribution of drinking water, food, blankets, clothing, and hygiene items.

Brazil | Erika Uchôa

With the increase in rainfall in Southwestern Bahia and successive dam failures in the region's municipalities, many people are suffering from the effects of the flood. The crisis, which was already affecting municipalities in Southern Bahia, expanded and caused the state government to include 47 southwestern cities in the list of municipalities in emergency situations.

Since December 25, with the rupture of a dam due to a high volume of water in the district of Iguá, in Vitória da Conquista, other dams have been overloaded and also broken. Thus, entire communities were left under water. In other locations, threatened by flooding, many families were evacuated to avoid greater risks.

In Itambé, the river overflowed, and houses collapsed. In Serra do Marçal, in Vitória da Conquista, there were several landslide points, and rocks fell off the hills on the side of the BA-263 {highway?}. Itapetinga was one of the cities most affected by the flood. With the overflow of the Catolé River, which crosses the city, the streets and houses were taken by water.

The Adventist Solidarity Action (ASA) and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA Brazil) are mobilized in favor of those who suffer the effects of floods. The initiative involves the distribution of drinking water, food, blankets, clothing, and hygiene items.

Aid Actions

In Vitória da Conquista, a fundraiser was set up at the Adventist Church in the Brasil neighborhood. On Sunday, December 26, 70 food baskets, 5,000 pieces of clothing, 200 pairs of shoes, and bed linens were sent to assist homeless people in the municipalities of Itambé and Itapetinga.

One hundred food baskets sent by ADRA Brasil arrive in the city of Itapetinga [Photo Courtesy of the South American Division]
One hundred food baskets sent by ADRA Brasil arrive in the city of Itapetinga [Photo Courtesy of the South American Division]

This Monday, ADRA delivered 100 food baskets in the municipality of Itapetinga, provided fuel for the cars that are being serviced, and sent sets of warm clothes. Other actions are taking place in Alto Maron, Jequié, and other affected cities, where churches have become service and distribution centers.

Find out how to help: 

Donate through pix [email protected], or by bank transfer:

ADRA Brasil: Santander - 033 - Ag.1181, C/c 13.001729-4, CNPJ 01.467.063/0001-15

You can also leave your donations at collection points in Vitória da Conquista and Jequié:

  1. Adventist Church of Bairro Brasil (R. Espírito Santo, 330 - Bairro Brasil, Vitória da Conquista - BA)

  2. Alto Maron Adventist Church (R. José do Patrocínio, 38 - Alto Maron, Vitória da Conquista - BA)

  3. Campo do América Adventist Church (R. Paquetá, 12, Jequié, BA)

ADRA is a humanitarian agency present in 118 countries, which emerged with the purpose of improving the living conditions of people in vulnerable situations. It currently works on five fronts: food security, economic development, basic education, primary health, and emergency preparedness and response. To learn more about the entity on a global level, visit adra.org.br.

This article was originally published on the South American Division’s Portuguese news site