Brazil. Warehouses full in Portugal with donations waiting for transport

A The tragedy that struck Rio Grande do Sul (RS), in Brazil, mobilized people all over the world to bring help to the Brazilian State.

Authorities and volunteers continue to work hard to rescue people who remain isolated due to high water levels and who are beginning to suffer from a lack of food.

In Portugal, solidarity mobilization was felt particularly through the SOS RS movement in Portugal, which was launched on Tuesday, May 7th.

The organizer, Camila Fernandes, then stated – in a video on Instagram that has since been deleted – that she had been guaranteed by the Brazilian Consulate of a chartered plane to send donations to the region affected by the floods.

Donations arrived in a rush to several spaces in Lisbon and Porto (Cacém, Sete Rios and Campolide, for example) and given the wave of solidarity that was felt, these places quickly became crowded. Around 4 tons of goods will have been donated. But now, and with warehouses full, there is a problem: the flight confirmed by the organization, which would depart this Friday from Lisbon, never existed.

Camila Fernandes’ voice came with an “apology” for the oversight, but also the guarantee that help will reach Rio Grande do Sul.

“In the heat of emotion and amidst the despair of having loved ones involved in the tragedy, Camila let herself be carried away and announced that the plane had already been confirmed. This has not happened yet, but we are, yes, in negotiation. An organized group of civil society in Lisbon is carrying out a joint effort [iniciativa, em brasileiro] collection of supplies to be sent to RS. It’s beautiful, exciting”, can be read in a new publication, which this time explains that “the initiative is private and has no involvement from the Portuguese government”.

Several personalities have already joined the movement, now looking for transport and not donations, however suspended due to lack of space. Juliette, singer and former winner of ‘Big Brother Brasil’, said this Thursday, on the SIC program ‘Casa Feliz’, that she was looking for a means of transport. According to the celebrity, who has been asking for help on Instagram, there are 4 tons of goods in Lisbon that need to be taken to Rio Grande do Sul. Bruna Gomes, Brazilian and winner of ‘Big Brother Portugal’, has made the same request on social media.

Susana Werner, actress and wife of footballer Júlio César, also asked for donations to the same cause on her Instagram account.

The organization is now sorting donations and has ordered boxes and tape for shipping logistics. On social media, although there are many comments of praise and thanks for the initiative, there is also numerous criticism for the incorrect information that was disseminated and the lack of organization.

Consulted, demarcates himself

The Brazilian Consulate in Lisbon and Porto has already demarcated itself from this and other initiatives, sharing a clarification stating that it has “no relationship with personal initiatives relating to donations of goods and values ​​to those affected”.

Find out how to help through “safe and verified initiatives”

Contacted by News by the Minutethe advisor to Itamaraty, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that in this link it is possible to “find safe and verified initiatives”.

It is worth remembering that the strong storm in Rio Grande do Sul began on Monday last week and continued in the following days, causing extensive damage to roads, bridges, homes and leaving a large part of the population of Rio Grande do Sul without electricity or drinking water.

With 11 million inhabitants, Rio Grande do Sul has been greatly affected by climate change

Read Also: Floods in Porto Alegre. “It was as if it were the beginning of the pandemic”