In response to the dire situation faced by thousands of flood afflicted in Brazil, ACT Appeal LABR01 was issued on 17 August 2000 with ACT member CESE proposing an initial emergency relief programme. They have requested support from the ACT network to provide assistance to the affected families in the urban area of Recife and two rural communities in the state of Pernambuco in the crisis and post-crisis phase. Its objective is to serve the less fortunate in urban and rural areas, especially in the Northeastern region of Brazil. These Churches are among the eleven founding Churches of Diaconia. The Salvation Army is a member of the Forum of Churches recently set up by Diaconia.
Rain continues to fall and hinder the work of clearing up.
The President paid a visit to the devastated area and has promised to provide financial aid. 480 kilometers of federal highways have been damaged along with 11 state highways damaged in various localities. 55 kilometers of roads in the metropolitan region have been damaged and 4 kilometers of access roads have been destroyed. The cost of damages has not been calculated. Impact on Human Lives More than 53,000 homeless in over 35 municipalities in Pernambuco The State Department of Health said that in the last week there have been 26 cases of leptospirosis an increase over the usual numbers as the rains this year have been more intense.