Authorities in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul state, are working with the regional government, central government, civil defense and military forces to quickly build a “temporary city” to house thousands of displaced people. to severe floods that devastated the Brazilian state for two weeks. Technical studies have already advanced, but the start date for what is already considered a humanitarian military operation has not yet been announced.
The region chosen for the construction of this temporary city was the northern zone of Porto Alegre, which has several higher points that are not at such great risk of flooding due to the advance of the Guaiba River, which in many other areas had already reached two levels again on Tuesday height of water above streets and avenues. In total, according to the draft being prepared, the “temporary city” should accommodate at least 10 thousand of the many thousands of internally displaced persons, who are now divided into hundreds of improvised temporary shelters in schools, enterprises, warehouses and even cultural spaces. facilitating and expanding service activities.
People will be housed in temporary structures, which, among other possibilities being explored, could be large Civil Defense tents containing furniture and everyday utensils to try to provide them with as much comfort as possible despite the precariousness of the situation. The makeshift city will not just be a dormitory, a warehouse for people, the idea is to bring there a minimum of infrastructure and services similar to what the residents had in the area where they lived.
Thus, there should be small markets and perhaps even a large supermarket operating in the area. In addition to them, the “temporary city” will also have a school and a first-aid post exclusively for “residents.”
Tens of thousands of people have been left homeless and living in temporary shelters in Porto Alegre since the worst climate tragedy began in Rio Grande do Sul on April 29, which has so far left at least 147 people dead and 128 missing. Statewide, the number of homeless people in 447 cities affected by floods has already exceeded 619 thousand.