Brazilian floods leave thousands homeless

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Friday June 25, 2010 00:00

The figure of missing people has risen from the 40,000 estimated on Tuesday when news of the disaster broke. The embassy said 41 people have died as a result of the disaster, while 1,500 are missing in the states of Alagoas and Pernambuco. Up to 71 municipalities or districts have been affected with several agricultural towns reportedly submerged by the floodwater.

The embassy said the floods did not affect big industrial towns that contribute significantly to the Brazilian economy. It said the effects of the disaster are more humanitarian than economic. The embassy said Brazil has unveiled $175 million for emergencies that have risen from the disaster. The funds will be used for evacuation, medical, food and other interventions.

The embassy could not say how much the international community is helping Brazil because they it does not have the information. The disaster struck following days of heavy rain in the states of Alagoas and Pernambuco. The resulting flood burst a dam in Uni‹o de Palmeiras, which was hit by a wall of water.

However the embassy was optimistic the affected towns would be restored back to normal.  International media quoted Brazilian relief officials saying some towns have been wiped off the map by the flood, but the embassy in Gaborone said this is just a figure of speech.

'The towns will be restored to their normal state, they have not been wiped from the map in the literal sense, but the damage is calamitic,'  the embassy said.