Bolsonaro Announces R$892 Million Funding to Assist Rain-Affected Municipalities

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro announced yesterday, January 30th, the release of R$892 million in federal funds for infrastructure reconstruction efforts in municipalities affected by the heavy rainfall in the Southeast region for over a week, mainly in Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro.

The announcement was made in Belo Horizonte, after the president met with ministers and the state governor, Romeu Zema. They flew over some of the areas most affected by heavy rains.

The funds will be released through an interim measure, opening an exceptional credit in favor of the Ministry of Regional Development (MDR).

“We are working together in an attempt to mitigate the damage caused by this catastrophe, which happened in the last few days,” Bolsonaro said in a brief statement to the press. The president returned to Brasília later on Thursday afternoon.

According to the government of Minas Gerais, so far 55 people have perished in the state due to the downpours and some 30,000 are homeless. A total of 123 municipalities in the three states most affected by the rains have had an emergency situation recognized by the federal government.

“It seems to me that the worst is already behind us, but the state will be attentive to everything,” said Governor Romeu Zema.

Minister Gustavo Canuto, of Regional Development, declared that a task force will be set up to collect and process applications from municipalities as soon as possible.

“The national civil protection and defense system has worked in its three spheres, municipal, state and federal. President Jair Bolsonaro, in a clear demonstration of concern for the states of Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro, is providing R$1 billion for efforts to restore essential services, reconstruction of all damaged structures. The municipalities are required to submit these requests to the Ministry of Regional Development”.

In addition to releasing extra funds, the federal government reported that it has been working through the Ministry of Health in the distribution of more than two tons of drugs to the most affected regions. Payments under the Bolsa Família’ (Family Grant) plan, and the withdrawal of FGTS (Severance Premium Reserve Fund) funds by victims of the rains, will also be brought forward.