2011-01-18
AMDA Emergency Bulletin #1: Floods and Landslides in Brazil

In response to the floods and landslides occurring in the state of Rio de Janeiro since Jan. 11th AMDA is going to dispatch relief personnel from its headquarters in Okayama, Japan. As of Jan. 16th the disaster, which is said to be the worst natural calamity in the history of Brazil, has caused more than 600 deaths. According to the Brazilian Civil Defense Agency, more storms are likely to hit the nation and the outbreak of diseases is also feared.

WHO/PAHO's report on Jan. 14th said up to 85 municipalities are affected in the state of Rio de Janeiro of which twenty are still under the state of emergency. While the afflicted population has topped 120,000 with more than 14,000 people being displaced, the Brazilian government's relief work has been stymied; beside the interruption of communication lines and power cut, the access to some of the affected areas has been blocked off. As of now the government is urgently trying to fund the most affected areas, namely, the municipalities of Nova Friburgo, Petropolis, Teresopolis and Sumidouro.

AMDA team will be leaving for Brazil on Jan. 18th and is expected to arrive in Sao Paulo in the evening of Jan. 19th. AMDA's relief personnel includes a Brazilian-national living in Japan whose local municipality, known for a large number of Brazilian residents, is also backing up this relief effort.

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