Massive floods claim 809 lives in Rio
AMURT/AMURTEL global launches effort to assist in Brazil Flood relief.
Rockville, MD, January 24, 2011: A team from AMURT & AMURTEL based in Rio (amurt.org.br) deployed to areas 120 km north in Communidade de Alegria, Teresopolis in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to provide assistance for those impacted by the recent massive flooding and landslides.
Food, clothing, water, toiletries and other donations were distributed to affected communities in Novo Friborgo, Teresopolis and Petropolis. The official death toll in the last eleven days has been 809, according to the government. Houses on the bank of the river were completely destroyed with water reaching a height of six feet inside the houses that were not carried away. There are 417 people missing and 7,780 people homeless.
AMURT & AMURTEL are working with the local Red Cross on current disaster relief operations and plan to open a permanent center in Teresopolis for providing continued assistance to the community after the disaster phase is over.
Report from an AMURT volunteer:
Residents had to escape with their families and children in the middle of
the night, with no lights at all, to higher grounds.
We found children sleeping on the floor, and the donated mattresses brought from Rio de Janeiro were very valuable. Food, clothing, water, toiletries and other donations were received by the community, and they have no water and electricity so far. Words, gestures of affection and donations from supporters, emotioned and thrilled the residents. Six cars and two pick-ups
were used as transportation of the goods to supply this community for
one-week period.
Donations will be welcome to enable a continuity of the work in
this and other communities, with the presence of the volunteers, who will remain in Teresopolis and Friburgo working with this relief project.
About Just Giving...
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - the charity raises more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
Please donate whatever amount you wish to, no amount is too small!
