Rains in RS: “we will not allow a lack of resources to repair the damage”, says Lula

During a speech held this Thursday afternoon (2) in Santa Maria (RS), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) stated that he “will not allow” a lack of resources from the federal government to minimize the damage caused by the heavy rains that have hit Rio Grande do Sul since the beginning of the week. To date, at least 13 people have died.

Lula's speech took place after a meeting to address the crisis in the state, which was attended by governor Eduardo Leite (PSDB), ministers and representatives of the Armed Forces.

“The federal government will be 100% available to the state of Rio Grande do Sul, to the people of Rio Grande do Sul, for us to provide human resources, work, efficiency and resources, which I know will be necessary, to so that we can repair the losses”, stated Lula.

According to the president, at this first moment, the focus of coordinated actions between the federal and state governments is to rescue injured and stranded people. “In the second stage, we will have to take care of carrying out an assessment of the damage and, from there, start thinking about how to find the money so that we can repair this damage.”

Earlier, Eduardo Leite published a video on his social networks saying that this moment “is not just about overflights, but about everyone working together to save lives”.

Leite praised the presence of Lula and the ministers in Santa Maria and reinforced that this “already is and will be the worst climate disaster in our state”.

“At this moment, the president has already guaranteed, and I have full confidence, that there will be no shortage of resources from the federal government to assist us. And there will be no shortage on the part of the state government either”, said the toucan.