BRAZIL

Rio Grande do Sul Flood Emergency: Snapshot #3

As of 10 June 2024

Almost six weeks since extreme weather conditions brought heavy rains and flooding to southern Brazil, water remains high in several regions in the
most southern parts of Rio Grande do Sul. With damage in 478 out of 497 municipalities, more than 95 per cent of the state has been affected, an area
comparable to the United Kingdom. According to local authorities, the flooding is the most severe disaster the region has ever faced. At its peak of impact
in mid-May, the floods displaced almost 700,000 people, with 80,000 seeking refuge in shelters.

2.3M 173 38 423K 200K 18K

PEOPLE AFFECTED DEATHS REPORTED PEOPLE MISSING PEOPLE DISPLACED HOUSES AFFECTED PEOPLE IN SHELTERS
Source: All data from Rio Grande do Sul Civil Defense, as of 10 June 2024, 09:00
GUYANA
FRENCH GUIANA GUYANA FRENCH GUIANA
Monte Caburaí
SURINAME SURINAME
COLOMBIA COLOMBIA

ECUADOR ECUADOR

PERU BRAZIL PERU BRAZIL

BOLIVIA BOLIVIA

CHILE PARAGUAY PARAGUAY

CHILE
ATLANTIC
ATLANTIC OCEAN
OCEAN

ARGENTINA ARGENTINA

URUGUAY Arroio Chuí URUGUAY

An estimated 4,521km of roads, avenues At it's peak in mid-May, more than 95 per cent of the An estimated 2.7 million hectares of
and highways have been affected, 124km state was affected, displacing almost 700,000, with agricultural land has been affected by
longer than the distance to cross 80,000 in shelters the flooding, equivalent to almost the
brazil from north to south Source: Rio Grande do Sul State Government, as of 10 June 2024, entire size of belgium
Source: Rio Grande do Sul State Government, Single Map of 09:00 | shelter data from Senso dos Abrigos Emergencias RS,SEDES-RS, Source: EMATER, reported 6 June | based on estimated land
the Rio Grande Plan (MUP) released on 30 May UNICEF,MDS,MS, SES-RS size of Belgium of 30K km­2

OVERVIEW
The number of affected people remains at 2.3 million, but the death toll
has risen to 173, with 38 still missing. Approximately 423,000 people are
still displaced, with more than 18,000 in shelters and an unknown number
of people staying with friends, families and neighbours.

As of 6 June, 95 municipalities remain in a state of public calamity and

348 in an emergency situation. With the water receding from major cities
and large rural areas, authorities have continued to assess and estimate
preliminary losses for housing and livelihoods, including losses in
agriculture, livestock, and industrial/commercial sectors. A more detailed
assessment is expected to be conducted in the coming weeks.

On 7 June, a delegation from the Ministry of Education completed an
assessment of the municipality school network in Rio Grande do Sul,
revealing that 1,052 schools are affected and 35 completely destroyed.
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Rescue workers navigate floodwaters in the historic city centre
of Porto Alegre in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Photo: UNHCR/Eduardo
Aigner

The state government estimates that the flooding has affected a total of
4,521km of streets, avenues, roads and highways in the 78 municipalities
that declared a public state of calamity. This is 124km greater than the
distance to cross Brazil from north to south.
Brazil's Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company (Emater)
estimates that 2.7 million hectares of soil, almost the entire land size of
Belgium, lost fertility due to the floods. Producers in 405 municipalities have
already reported issues. According to the state government, recovering the
affected soil will cost around R$16 billion (US$3 billion).
According to research conducted by the University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos,
Rio Grande do Sul faces zero or negative economic growth until August,
representing a potential 4.2 per cent loss as growth was forecast between
4 and 4.5 per cent. The most affected municipalities according to the
study are Eldorado do Sul, Canoas and São Leopoldo with economic drops,
respectively, of 36.3 per cent, 19.8 per cent and 19.3 per cent in May 2024
when compared to the same period last year.

The names and designations used in this publication do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. The numbers presented are for orientation and not conclusive.
Creation date: 10 June 2024 Sources: Government of Brazil, State Government of Rio Grande do Sul, PAHO/WHO, Emater, University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos, IFRC, Direct Relief
Feedback: ocha-rolac@un.org | www.unocha.org/rolac | www.reliefweb.int p. 1/2
RESPONSE & COORDINATION
With winter already underway, recent rapid needs assessments carried out days, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) started airdropping five tonnes of food to
by humanitarian partners in various shelters in major towns reveal that the populations that had remained isolated for over a month with very limited
most frequently mentioned needs include clean drinking water and basic access to vital aid.
living supplies such as mattresses, blankets, clothing and personal hygiene
On 4 June, 100 field medic packs were delivered by the Pan American
items. There is also a significant demand for kitchen items to support
Health Organization (PAHO) and Direct Relief for healthcare providers as
daily dietary requirements, childcare items, and medical supplies, including
part of the response. These packs include supplies for infection control,
medications and first aid.
diagnostics, trauma care and personal protection.
In the capital, after being closed for almost a month, the main bus terminal
As of 6 June, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red
has reopened, albeit operating at only a third of its original capacity.
Crescent Societies (IFRC) have distributed 648,000 litres of water, 9,800
Nonetheless, it is once again connecting and transporting passengers to
food baskets, 10,150 bags of clothes, 3,595 blankets, 7,830 cleaning kits,
the rest of the state as road blockages have been gradually repaired. The
6,380 hygiene kits, 2,347 mattresses, 810 pillows, 640 diaper kits, 116
international airport in the capital remains inoperative and may be closed
kitchen sets and 142,559 medicines.
until the end of the year. Logistics into the state are being managed through
the military and smaller aircrafts operating from other airports. The UN System in Brazil remains committed to addressing the critical
needs of the affected population while also coordinating with the national
In addition to the already reported national funding of R$12 billion
government and other stakeholders to conduct Damage and Loss
(US$2.5 billion) and state funding of R$241.8 million (US$48.5 million)
Assessments and support early recovery efforts. OCHA continues to
for the response, the National Bank for Social Development (BNDES) has
support the UN Resident Coordinator's Office by streamlining information
announced the allocation of R$15 billion (US$3 billion) to be released
and has deployed a senior staff member to provide high-level technical
through a line of credit programme for industries and small companies to
assistance to the central government’s national disaster management
rapidly reactivate livelihood and labour conditions. Similarly, the Ministry of
agency. This deployment also aims to assess the need for further
Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture has launched an emergency
deployments to the affected
credit line, leveraging R$4 billion (US$750 million) for the the reconstruction
areas.
of family farming in the state.

While funding mechanisms are still taking time to be implemented and

release the necessary funds, food and non-food assistance remain crucial in Information on Temporary Information on how to
shelters, in spontaneous sites, and in isolated locations. During the past few Shelters donate to response efforts

Sebastião do Caí, Rio Grande do Sul. Workers sort through donations at a distribution centre. Photo: Government of Rio Grande do Sul

The names and designations used in this publication do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. The numbers presented are for orientation and not conclusive.
Creation date: 10 June 2024 Sources: Government of Brazil, State Government of Rio Grande do Sul, PAHO/WHO, Emater, University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos, IFRC, Direct Relief
Feedback: ocha-rolac@un.org | www.unocha.org/rolac | www.reliefweb.int p. 2/2