Damage caused by flooding in Brazil. From SOS Archives

February 3, 2011: Following massive landslides and floods in the highlands of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, thousands of homeless families have been forced to live in temporary shelters and rely on emergency assistance. SOS Children's Villages is now providing emergency relief in Nova Friburgo as well as in the heavily affected municipality of Teresópolis. 

SOS Children's Villages is focusing on child protection, educational support and recreational activities for children as well as psychological support for caregivers. In Teresópolis alone, 309 persons have died in the landslides and many are still missing. In total, more than 830 died and another 540 people are missing in the mountainous region north of Rio de Janeiro.

 

A temporary shelter in Rio de Janeiro. From SOS Archives

In Teresópolis, more than 6,000 people are displaced and have been given temporary shelter by the government. At more than 30 different locations, families are accommodated in tents which might serve as provisional homes for at least six months and possibly for up to two years. Last week, Brazil's President, Dilma Rousseff, announced that the state, the federal governments and a consortium of construction companies will build 8,000 free homes for the neediest  families amongst the flood victims.

The SOS team in Teresópolis is concentrating on some 800 families with 1,800 children (aged 0 to 14 years) who are living at temporary shelters in the district of Albuquerque. In a first step, the families in the temporary shelters are being registered and their individual situation assessed. SOS Children's Villages will offer psychosocial help for children and parents and provide educational activities for children and youths. The emergency program is scheduled to run through July 2011. 

SOS Mother with children. From SOS Archives

At the same time, SOS Children's Village will establish family committees to strengthen child protection and has offered to hold methodological training for shelter staff to support and counsel the families and children. SOS Children's Villages is working in close cooperation with the various local authorities (education, social development, health). If and how SOS Children's Villages will engage in the affected region in the long-term has yet to be assessed.

You can help us help those families affected by the major raining and flooding in Brazil by making a donation or becoming a Global Village Builder. Would you like to learn more? Sign up to receive SOS Children's Villages eNewsletters to stay informed about issues that affect children around the world.