After the rains, hunger

Author (s): SILVIA BESSA
Correio Braziliense - 27/06/2010



Silva family, the neighborhood of Tibiri in Barreiros, represents the plight of the approximately 80,000 affected by floods Pernambuco

In the Forest South of Pernambuco, there is only one lady more challenging than the rain: hunger. Is in the hollow of small villages, where water flooding was so severe that the help of governments, the army and volunteers take to arrive. Hunger appears to be resistant to everything, especially the weather. It's much worse than the solid mud, to the despair of the Silva family, poorly installed under the rubble of last Generino Street house in the neighborhood of Tibiri. "Yesterday (Thursday), these boys were crying so much that just seeing. And I could not eat anything for them, "says Odette Maria da Silva, 34 years, with her husband, Jose Amaro. Parents of eight children aged between 5 and 15 years, the two face old acquaintance, who now gained more strength.

The Silva family represents the hunger and misery of another 80 thousand people, including homeless and displaced, affected by floods Pernambuco. Over the days, the supporting infrastructure has improved and taken further donations to the flagellum, but still lack much in the 67 affected municipalities. Slim body, wide-eyed expression and saddened, Odete also think on how to rebuild the house of mud walls of three rooms in the family.

Still want to take the dead cow rotting 100m from the hut and incenses the environment with the smell of carrion. "But how? It's been five days without anything or anyone comes here. We are alone, "laments Amaro.

Seven children - Mirel, 5 years; Yahweh, 6; Marco, 9; Maciel, 11; Marcikeli, 10, and the twins and Marciana Marcilene, 14 - have been sleeping in the little church in the neighborhood, one of the most affected by the flooding that hit Barreiros . The shelter is located 1km from the family home.

The children huddle together two mattresses without sheets sufficient to contain the cold, under the care of Odette and Josivaldo Pereira, who also lost his home. Marcia, the daughter of 15 years of Silva, three months pregnant, spent most of the day with mom and dad. Weak, because not eating and not taking medication to prevent nausea of early pregnancy, only separate the father watches the damp clay that remains of mud huts. "If it was bad, was worse," he theorizes Amaro.

At 7am the morning of last Friday, the novelty was the pot of macaroni Miojo that Marcus won in the street. Protecting it in the middle of the thin little arms, the boy carried the container carefully, while deviating from the rubble. Was terrified of dropping the appropriate food. The Silva family had for lunch Friday. But, as small, certainly would be no match for the hungry. "I often without food to give them what little I get out there," his mother said. "I just do not think much about it. God will provide, I have faith, "bubble, trying to be optimistic.

Singh's residence to the entrance of the Generino Street, where the army was distributing water around 9am, several blocks and many wrecks. "When you hear the rumor that they are giving food, we run.

But when it gets there in his career, finished everything, "said Odette, along with Marcia nodded in agreement.

Federal Appeal

LARISSA MILK

The $ 25 million from the federal government for flood victims begin to be used in Alagoas. Yesterday, a thousand water tanks with a capacity of 500 liters each, were delivered in six affected counties (Santana's Mundaú, São José da Lage, União dos Palmares, Branquinha, Murici and Rio Largo). Other 4000 recipients - bought with the money box formed by the Union - will be distributed starting next Tuesday, the 15 municipalities in the state of public calamity.

On Friday, 10 thousand were delivered piping hot in the state by a contractor.

Other 20 000 meals will be distributed today. Both actions are part of the Work Plan of Assistance, prepared by the State Coordinator of Civil Defense (Cedec) from Alagoas. According to Cedec, as the assistance of food was provided by state and federal governments, the population from Alagoas do not need donations of food and water. The supplies are most needed: cleaning supplies and toiletries, mattresses, blankets and household utensils. In the state, 181 018 people were affected by floods and 34 died.

Already the planning secretary of Pernambuco, Gerard Julius, said that since last Tuesday sitting, the state has used the $ 25 million available to the state as basic food items, mineral water, mattresses and cleaning supplies.

In the state, 30 counties are in emergency and nine remain in a state of public calamity. By press time, 17 deaths had been counted

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