Brazil Flood Relief
May 2024 – September 2024
Last updated: September 2024
AHAH is responding to severe flooding in South Brazil, marking our first relief effort in the country. The floods severely affected Rio Grande do Sul, displacing nearly 600,000 people and damaging critical infrastructure. We are providing immediate relief assisting with mud removal and cleanup, and collaborating with local organizations for effective volunteer coordination and essential supplies distribution.
Our Work
All Hands and Hearts (AHAH) acted swiftly in response to the devastating flooding in South Brazil. Our Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) was on the ground within a week, marking our first relief effort in the country. AHAH provided relief to individuals and families grappling with the flood’s aftermath, taking immediate action to assist with the extensive need for mud removal and other cleanup efforts. Today, we are maximizing our impact in the region in collaboration with local organizations by supporting volunteer coordination, meal preparation and building activities to ensure efficient, community-driven relief efforts.
Current Activities
The team has maintained momentum in mucking, gutting, sanitizing and clearing debris from flood-affected homes, completing almost 61 sites so far. In partnership with local organization Sailors, AHAH has built over 690 beds to address the urgent need for safe sleeping arrangements, as many people are still sleeping on the floors of their flood-ravaged homes during the cold winter months. Our ongoing partnership with IMAIS (Mais Kitchen) supports underserved communities through food distribution, educational programs and social activities, where we’ve expanded our efforts to provide psychosocial support for local students, offering English clubs and art sessions to boost confidence and self-worth in the aftermath of the disaster.
Disaster Profile
After unprecedented rainfall began on April 29, severe flooding struck South Brazil and parts of Uruguay, leaving 46 of 96 neighborhoods in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, completely submerged. The disastrous flooding resulted in 169 casualties, displaced nearly 600,000 people and affected over two million inhabitants, marking Brazil’s worst flooding in over 80 years. Of the 600,000 displaced, 35,000 are still currently living in temporary shelters. Infrastructure, including many roads and bridges, was heavily damaged, making access to and across Porto Alegre unpredictable.
All Hands and Hearts ©2024
