Pope Francis sends aid to flood-stricken Brazilians

By Thulio Fonseca

Pope Francis has allocated the sum of 100 thousand euros, equivalent to 500 thousand reais, to the populations affected by the floods that have devastated the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, since the beginning of May.

The Pontiff's aid - explains the Apostolic Nunciature in Brazil - has come through the Apostolic Almoner and aims to be a concrete gesture, especially for the numerous displaced people who have lost their homes due to the disaster.

The sum "will be transmitted to the South 3 Region of the National Episcopal Conference of Brazil, the region that covers the entire Rio Grande do Sul, to help it in every possible way," explains Archbishop Jaime Spengler, Archbishop of the capital Porto Alegre and president of the CNBB.

Pope Francis's concern 

At the end of last Sunday's Regina Caeli, May 5, the Pope expressed his solidarity with the people affected by the heavy rains in Rio Grande do Sul, after the Guaíba River exceeded flood levels, reaching more than 4 meters.

After the Marian prayer, the Holy Father assured his prayers, adding: "May the Lord welcome the deceased, comfort their families, and those who had to leave their homes."

This closeness has turned into concrete help, with the sending of this amount that will be managed by the South 3 Regional Office of the CNBB and that will be of great help to the population of Rio Grande do Sul.

The disaster

Throughout the state, 425 municipalities have been affected, with 100 confirmed deaths as of Wednesday evening, May 8, in addition to 130 missing persons, 374 injured, 163,786 displaced people, and 7,428 people in shelters. These figures, which are constantly updated, reflect the unprecedented severity of the floods that have hit the state, amid new heavy rains and forecasts of strong winds, along with the arrival of cold weather.

Porto Alegre's Salgado Filho Airport is flooded and will remain closed until May 30.

Constant solidarity

Archbishop Spengler reports that in Porto Alegre "the water level has practically never gone down and in the low-lying areas of the city, the floods continue to increase."

However, people's solidarity has been of great help: "I have visited several places where the displaced are welcomed, and it is truly extraordinary work carried out by many volunteers, together with our communities."

The prelate also explains that "in the southern part of the state, in the Pelotas and Rio Grande region, almost on the border with Uruguay, the people are facing the consequences of the waters reaching the region."

There they had time to prepare, adds the president of the CNBB, "so in a way, it could be said that they are in a slightly better situation, but it has rained a lot in those areas, and this will certainly contribute to further suffering for the population".