Lula pledges federal assistance to Rio Grande do Sul
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva assured on Thursday (May 2) that ample federal government resources will be allocated to aid the people of Rio Grande do Sul state and to facilitate the reconstruction of municipalities affected by storms and floods since the beginning of the week.
Lula, accompanied by a delegation of ministers, arrived in the city of Santa Maria on Thursday (2) for a working meeting with state Governor Eduardo Leite. The governor described the situation as the most severe climate disaster in the history of Rio Grande do Sul.
“Every resource within the federal government's grasp, be it through ministries, civil society, or our military, will be committed around the clock. Our aim is to swiftly address the fundamental needs of those isolated due to the rainfall," Lula affirmed after the meeting.
Governor Eduardo Leite stated that the current figures regarding deaths and disappearances are “extremely preliminary” and are anticipated to increase. The primary focus remains on rescuing people. “I am deeply saddened also by the unrecorded deaths, which unfortunately will likely escalate due to landslides and individuals stranded in inaccessible areas for over 48 hours,” he expressed. Leite highlighted the heightened risk across 204 municipalities due to rising river levels and the looming threat of landslides.
Since the beginning of the crisis, the federal government has mobilized to support emergency relief efforts for the population. Military personnel from the Armed Forces have been helping to search for and rescue victims and clear roads, as well as distributing food, mattresses, water, and setting up sorting stations and shelters.
Rio Grande do Sul has been grappling with escalating cycles of adverse weather conditions. In the latter half of the previous year, heavy rains triggered devastating floods, resulting in the overflow of the Taquari River, marking one of the most severe inundations in decades. This event claimed 50 lives.
