ADRA's humanitarian work is ongoing after the emergency that occurred in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil on April 29, 2024. According to the latest report released by the State's Civil Defense, flooding has impacted 446 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul, with 2,115,704 people affected, 131 missing, and 143 confirmed deaths as of May 14. The local government itself classifies the situation as “the biggest climate catastrophe in Rio Grande do Sul”.

Currently, ADRA is providing direct assistance in the cities of Igrejinha, São Leopoldo, Canoas, Lajeado, Gravataí, Novo Hamburgo, Porto Alegre, and Rio Grande. On May 5, ADRA provided its mobile humanitarian aid solidarity truck to assist flood victims in the region. Recently, the truck served served residents of the São Leopoldo and Igrejinha municipalities. 150 volunteers from Ação Solidária Adventista contributed to the following services:

• 7,540 hot meals delivered

• 7,240 kilos of sanitized clothing

• 2,541 liters of water distributed

• 24,715 pieces of clothing distributed

• 4,408 basic food baskets distributed

• 3,241 hygiene kits distributed

• 2,846 cleaning kits distributed

• 587 mattresses delivered

• 2,566 shoes delivered

• 344 diapers delivered

• 6,890 pieces of layette delivered

• 152 toys distributed

• 14 kilos of dog food distributed

Since May 13, the solidarity truck has been serving the Canoas region.

Donation Campaign via Social Media

ADRA opened a social media donation campaign to offer assistance to families affected by the rains in Rio Grande do Sul. Additionally, an ADRA team of emergency response experts has been deployed to Rio Grande do Sul and is collecting information from residents and local authorities in the cities where it is working directly. The objective is to structure the best way to invest the financial resources raised through this campaign.

The current situation in the affected cities makes it difficult to immediately define the assistance that will be provided. Therefore, the situational and needs analysis that the team is carrying out at the moment is essential.

Shelter Administration

ADRA is also collaborating with the Secretariat of Social Development in Porto Alegre to manage four shelters located at the State University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), the FGTAS Vida Humanistic Center, the State Sports Training Center, and the Military Police Academy, each with capacity to accommodate around 1,000 people.

These spaces serve as the main collection point for physical donations that arrive at the state. Volunteers also manage the receipt and delivery of these donations.

In partnership with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, ADRA manages two spaces that have become shelters for people who had to leave their homes in Novo Hamburgo and Gravataí.

In partnership with UNICEF, ADRA is assisting a team of researchers and specialists in evaluating and diagnosing individuals at 160 emergency shelters established in Porto Alegre. They are also exploring the possibility of establishing ten safe spaces for children in some temporary shelters.

The original article was published on the South American Division Portuguese website.