Rains in RS: federal government failed to transfer a third of the funds promised in the last tragedy

The Ministry of Integration and Regional Development, the body responsible for National Civil Defense, failed to transfer a third of the funds promised to the municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul since the extratropical cyclone that devastated an important part of the state in September last year.

Many of these cities are facing new tragedies due to the rains that have ravaged the interior of Rio Grande do Sul in recent days. At least 13 people have died and hundreds are homeless.

The promise was to release R$500 million for emergency actions. However, from September 2023 until April this year, approximately R$325 million was sent to the municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul – 65% of the publicly disclosed commitment.

The information is contained in a survey carried out by the ministry, at the request of the CNN . According to the ministry, the responsibility for the amount that was not transferred is the lack of projects by city halls.

The Union allocates the money, but the amount is only released if justifications and documents are presented showing how it will be used.

“After this process, the National Civil Defense technical team evaluates the goals and values ​​requested. With approval, an ordinance is published in the DOU [Diário Oficial da União] with the amount to be released”, explained the ministry in a note.

Of everything that has been released so far, the state government has received the most resources. It was R$82 million. This money was mainly used for emergency actions, such as purchasing water, food, mattresses and clearing roads.

Among the municipalities, the one that received the most federal transfers was Arroio do Meio (R$34.7 million). The resources were allocated to various activities: from the purchase of hygiene kits to the reestablishment of schools, health centers and the construction of housing units.

Next are Sarandi (R$32.8 million) and Muçum (R$23.2 million).

Lajeado

Lajeado, one of the main places affected by the rains of recent days, received R$2.4 million from the federal government for emergency Civil Defense actions over the last eight months.

Approximately R$435,000 was allocated to cleaning urban areas; R$1.3 million for the purchase of food baskets, cleaning kits, personal hygiene kits, mattresses, vehicle rentals and fuel; and R$607,000 for renovation of the city hall, a school pharmacy and the changing rooms of a gymnasium.

Despite the current situation, Lajeado is not on the list of municipalities that have a state of emergency recognized by the federal government at this time. The mayor of the municipality, Marcelo Caumo, informed the CNN who made the request and is awaiting publication in the Official Gazette. After that, according to him, projects will be presented.