Brazil's floods are country’s biggest climate disaster to date

According to provisional data, more than 150 people have died and about 100 are still unaccounted for, while many are without water, electricity, and basic services. More than 2 million people have been impacted and over 600,000 displaced. Makeshift shelters are being improvised in many locations to receive people who don’t know when or if they will be able to return to their homes.  

Providing emergency support

Doctors Without Borders emergency teams are responding to the climate disaster in Rio Grande do Sul with activities mainly focused on the most vulnerable people.

“These people were already facing difficult situations before the flooding,” said Rachel Soeiro. “But their needs have risen further and access to them has become more difficult.”

We are supporting the local indigenous health authorities with the delivery of medical assistance, medicines, supplies, water, and food to indigenous communities. We visited indigenous communities such as Guajayvi and Kurity, in the municipalities of Charqueadas and Canelas. On one occasion, the community was totally isolated by the rise of the floodwaters and had been without help for more than 10 days.

We also are cooperating with authorities to facilitate the delivery of water and food to isolated areas. As most roads are blocked, organizing transport is very complex. Many places can only be reached by helicopter.

In the city of Canoas, in Porto Alegre’s metropolitan region, our teams are setting up two mobile clinics with doctors, nurses, psychologists, and health promoters who are going to start working in shelters in the following days.

Additionally, we are offering remote training on mental health first aid to professionals who are assisting flood victims. Mental health support will remain one of our focus areas as part of emergency activities, along with medical consultations.

“We know from our experience that there is a huge need for mental health and psychosocial support in emergency settings and the demand comes both from the population and from professionals who are on the frontline,” said MSF psychologist Alvaro Palha.

The situation in the region is still very volatile, with unstable weather that may cause additional flooding or delay the return of people to their homes. Doctors Without Borders is monitoring the situation and may adapt our response to provide the best possible assistance according to the most urgent needs. 

About our work in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Doctors Without Borders implemented a mental health project to support victims of a socioenvironmental disaster that affected Rio Grande do Sul last year. Between September and November 2023, our teams carried out emergency response for people affected by a cyclone and flooding in towns of Taquari valley. For about three months, we provided training for local professionals, including psychologists, social workers, and education professionals. We also donated hygiene kits and offered health promotion activities to people who had to move to shelters. The same region was unfortunately severely affected by the most recent disaster.