There is also fear that politicians will use food aid as campaign fodder during this November's election. Like most famines, the roots of this crisis go much deeper than the drought. Even though it receives four times the amount of rain of California, there are still periodic droughts due to lack of political will. The impact of this drought, made worse by the effect of El Ni o, has exacerbated the misery here caused by the already unjust distribution of resources. Large landowners have close ties to the political elite who often block progress on the land reform, which was guaranteed in the 1988 Constitution.
White elephants run rampant in Brazil.
Many of the projects have been on hold for more than 5 years including one in the city of Ibimirim, interior of Pernambuco, a neighboring state of Paraiba. This irrigation project of 8,000 hectares should have been concluded in less than six years. After almost 20 years, there is still no termination date in sight. Meanwhile for Oliveira and other rural farmers, the threat of starvation remains. I am not angry with those who can take a trip abroad, but I am angry with the system that favors the rich and forgets the misery of the poor.