Heavy Flooding in Brazil Continues

Brazil has experienced flooding before due to heavy rainfall. In recent years, the frequency has significantly increased and Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, now experiences twice as many days of extreme rainfall as in 1960. Like so many countries, Brazil must learn to adapt to the consequences of climate change while striving to minimize them.

It is not the first time Brazil has been hit by flooding due to abundant rain. In recent years, it has increased a lot. The number of days of extreme rainfall in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, is now twice as many as in 1960. What doesn't make it any better is that water management has not grown sufficiently to keep up with the changed circumstances. The current floods killed 143 people (May 13), but 125 people are still missing and 806 people are injured. It is therefore feared that the number of fatalities will increase. The number of people who have had to leave their homes has risen to more than 618,000. The Navy provides emergency relief and purifies water for drinking water. Almost all cities (90%) in the state have been affected by the floods. The federal government is making almost €9 billion available and there are collections of food, water, and clothing throughout the country. Brazil is doing what it can.

The changes in the climate are noticeable in Brazil. The consequences of climate change are something we must learn to live with (and of course limit as much as possible). Adaptations to the built environment and good water management are necessary to prevent disasters of this magnitude in the future.



In the Netherlands, we have experience with flooding. In 1953, 1,836 people lost their lives in the North Sea Flood. This led to the Delta Works, which means that Zeeland and the islands of South Holland are now safe from flooding. But before these works could begin, emergency aid arrived. In Norway, many houses had been destroyed during the war and to be able to rebuild them quickly, prefabricated houses had been developed there. The Norwegian king Haakon made 326 of these houses available for the Netherlands. These were desperately needed, and some of these prefabricated houses are still there today. The Scandinavian countries sent a total of 800 houses.

Rio Grande do Sul is one of the richest and most productive states in Brazil. It has a large industrial sector, but also a thriving agricultural sector. It is the largest rice producer in the country and a fine wine is made. It's also the land of the gaúcho, the Brazilian version of the North American cowboy, but (as in the U.S.) much of the land is now used for agriculture. The state is home to many descendants of German migrants, evident in the cities and local culture. Gisele Bündchen is one such descendant of German immigrants in Rio Grande do Sul. These migrants have been living in Brazil for generations since the war. The Napoleonic War is not the Second World War as many Dutch people say when they hear it. The Dutch did come to Rio Grande do Sul and settled in and around the town of Não-Me-Toque. By the way, this strange name means, very Dutch, "don't touch me". Deputy in the Federal Parliament and leader of the liberal party NOVO, Marcel van Hattem comes from here.