The vice governor of Rio Grande do Sul assured that they identified areas in Porto Alegre, Canoas and Sao Leopoldo that meet the requirements to house the structures.
The floods do not give respite to the population of southern Brazil: Since the beginning of April, the intense rains have already left 151 dead, 100 missing and around half a million people evacuated from their homes. Faced with this critical scenario, regional authorities are planning to form four “tent cities” to shelter 8,000 people, who are currently housed in improvised places.
Approximately 500,000 people had to leave their homes and more than 77,000 are in public shelters. Specialists warned that the floods They can take a month or more to subside and many residents have nowhere to return to.
This is why the local government is planning temporary structures, with individual bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms for thousands of people who are currently stopping at schools, churches or sports stadiums.
“Some of these people, unfortunately, have nowhere to go.“Vice Governor Gabriel Souza of Rio Grande do Sul told Reuters in a telephone interview.
The official acknowledged that once the flood passes, many public buildings that currently function as shelters will have to return to their normal functions and volunteers will have to return to their routines. Given this situation, Souza announced that the Government has already identified locations in Porto Alegre, and in nearby Canoas and Sao Leopoldo that meet the requirements to house the structures.
Authorities are also looking for at least one more location with services in the heavily flooded city of Guaiba.
Floods in Brazil: how many people were evacuated
Of the approximately 50,000 people in public shelters in those four cities, the state government estimates that around 15% will need accommodation in the long term in temporary structures. It is expected that the majority rgo home or find alternativeslike staying with family.
The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) announced the donation to Rio Grande do Sul of 108 units of one temporary structure normally used in refugee camps.
Source: Ambito
