Floods: Alagoas not received a penny for prevention

Leandro Kleber
Accounts Opened

While Bahia is still the most privileged state with funds for actions to prevent climate disaster, Alagoas - The state hardest hit by the flooding of rivers in recent days - has not received a penny from the federal government for prevention in 2010. The Ministry of National Integration, responsible for the "prevention and disaster preparedness," disbursed R $ 70.6 million in the program this year. Bahia, Province where former minister of the folder Geddel Vieira Lima contributes to the government in the elections this year, received 57% of the amount released, equivalent to $ 40.1 million (see table).

Already Pernambuco, also punished by heavy rains in recent days, received less than 1% of total passed by the body through the prevention program, only $ 172,200. The item contains works and services of a preventive nature in hazardous areas, such as retaining slopes, surface drainage and groundwater, dredging, rectification and canalization of rivers and creeks. In addition, resources are used in surface protection with natural materials and artificial gravity walls, reinforced embankments, barriers and plant works like bridges and overpasses small.



Moreover, with the actions of the program of "disaster response and reconstruction, also administered by the Ministry of National Integration, the two states were better covered this year. Alagoas received R $ 3.8 million from the federal government to undertake actions that help and assistance to people affected by disasters, restoration of the essential activities and recovery from damage caused by the tragedies. That's because the state has suffered problems last year due to rains. The amount, however, does not represent even 1% the total passed by heading to states across the country, R $ 542.6 million. Pernambuco received R $ 19.8 million of that amount, ie 4% of the total (see table)



The state of Rio de Janeiro, which virtually stopped for a few days of early April because of flooding and landslides in the capital and cities in the metropolitan area, now leads the ranking of the beneficiaries of funds for disaster response. Of the R $ 542.6 million transferred by the federal government, R $ 118.3 million was spent on area Fluminense, 22% of total.



For the geologist at the University of Brasilia Oswaldo Filho, despite the rains that fell in Pernambuco and Alagoas have been anomalous, the Northeast has always problems arising from storms. He said the difficulty in implementing prevention projects are more political than technical. "Population river banks are always a potential danger, and dwellings located on slopes unwarranted. There are no geotechnical studies to occupy the areas. If there were, the impact of the rains would fall, "he says.



Number of affected



According to preliminary surveys of the National Center for Disaster and Risk Management (Cenadi), along with state coordination of civil defense, in Pernambuco, 53 cities have declared an emergency. Are 17,719 homeless, 24,301 homeless and 13 deaths. Alagoas are 22 municipalities affected, with 32,335 homeless, 25,843 homeless and 19 deaths.



The National Secretariat of Civil Defence released in the last hours 12 000 food baskets to Pernambuco and Alagoas baskets for 8000. Kits were also sent dormitory, consisting of mattresses, blankets, sheets, pillows, pillowcases and towels for the population that is homeless. Each state will receive 6000 kits.

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