Budget for disaster prevention has fallen by almost 80% in the last decade

The federal government’s funding for disaster prevention has fallen significantly over the last 10 years. According to data from Associação Contas Abertas, spending fell 78.4%, from R$6.8 billion in 2013 to R$1.47 billion last year. The values ​​refer to what was actually paid by the government and were corrected by the Consumer Price Index (IPCA) for the month of April.

A large part of the resources is the responsibility of the Ministry of Regional Integration and Development (MIRD), responsible for dealing with the consequences of disasters. Resources had a sharp reduction from 2015 onwards, when the country was going through a severe economic crisis.

Last year, around R$1.4 billion was paid for works such as slope containment, drainage, studies of risk areas, among others, which aim to prevent natural disasters across the country. Of this amount, around R$200 million was allocated to Rio Grande do Sul, which was also suffering from floods.

Check the numbers:

• 2014: R$6.8 billion
• 2015: R$2.9 billion
• 2016: R$2.9 billion
• 2017: R$2.7 billion
• 2018: R$2.2 billion
• 2019: R$1.6 billion
• 2020: R$2.0 billion
• 2021: R$1.3 billion
• 2022: R$1.3 billion
• 2023: R$1.4 billion
• 2024: R$2.6 billion

The survey carried out by Contas Abertas considered resources related to research and the implementation of the National Center for Natural Disaster Monitoring and Alerts (Cemaden). Data were collected from the Federal Government’s Integrated Financial Administration System (SIAFI) and Siga Brasil.

The founder and general secretary of Contas Abertas, Gil Castello Branco, recalls that in the last 14 years approximately R$70 billion were authorized in disaster prevention and response programs, but only 65% ​​of these resources were actually disbursed.

“The crucial problem, therefore, is not just a lack of resources. It is necessary that solidarity between federal Executive, Legislative and Judiciary authorities with governors and mayors does not only occur at the time of tragedies”, says Castello Branco.

For 2024, the forecast contained in the Annual Budget Law (LOA) is that 2.6 billion will be allocated to disaster prevention. Data collected by the association showed that, as of May 2, R$1 billion had been committed, and R$494 million had actually been paid.

Of this amount, Rio Grande do Sul received R$45.3 million, being the third state that received the most resources in 2024. Pernambuco (R$73 million) and Bahia (R$50.4 million) lead the ranking. In light of the tragedy in Rio Grande do Sul, the federal government has announced the allocation of funds to the state to help the affected population and to rebuild the cities, but these resources have other budgetary sources.

Union needs to create national plan against disasters

For Gaucho state deputy Professor Cláudio (Podemos-RS), the decrease in transfers shows the need for a national plan against disasters. He states that bureaucracy is also an impediment to the speedy receipt of funds from states and municipalities.

“There is a lack of a national plan to combat disasters. For example, the Union is absolutely passive. The states and city halls take on the fight against calamities and ask the Union for demands. However, the response time is very slow. Until the Union moves and makes things happen, many people lose their lives, become stranded, homeless and helpless”, said the deputy.

Asked about the role of states and municipalities, the parliamentarian states that city halls and the state government must be attentive in relation to monitoring the areas most sensitive to natural disasters.

“The role of city halls would be to effectively present to the Union what the risk zones are, what they can do and the volumes of resources allocated to mitigate these effects, in areas that are at risk for possible disasters. The problem is that city halls, like states, are overburdened with Health and Education. Public Security is the responsibility of the states. In this context, the Union has few responsibilities and should have a national disaster prevention plan”, added the parliamentarian.

CNM and government disagree on amounts invested in RS

The sending of resources by the federal government to Rio Grande do Sul also became a reason for conflict between the Palácio do Planalto and the National Confederation of Municipalities (CNM). After the floods recorded in the state in 2023, the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) promised to allocate approximately R$740 million for the recovery of the affected areas. However, the municipal entity states that only R$81 million was sent.

“It promised the amount of R$ 741 million, but only transferred R$ 81 million, which represents 11% in relation to what was promised, with part of this resource still referring to indirect transfers”, said the president of the CNM, Paulo Ziulkoski, through a note.

Ziulkoski also recalled that last year alone, “disasters affected 37.3 million people across Brazil, with 258 deaths, 126,345 homeless and 717,934 homeless”. He highlighted that the loss was R$105.4 billion in the country.

“In the same year, the federal government authorized R$ 1.4 billion to be invested in risk and disaster management in Municipalities for protection and Civil Defense actions, however, it only paid R$ 545 million, corresponding to 39% of the authorized amount “, he said.

Asked about the amount promised last year, the government stated that R$325 million was sent for civil defense actions in Rio Grande do Sul and claimed that there is no delay in the transfer of resources. The government also informed that cities that have not yet received the resources just need to present their work plans to the Ministry of Regional Integration and Development.

“So the affected municipalities simply need to enter the civil defense system, present a work plan, which is simple, made with georeferenced photos, with an estimated cost, and can request the recovery of bridges, destroyed residential units, bridges, all public infrastructure in Rio Grande do Sul. Budgetary resources are guaranteed by the Federal Government”, explains Wesley Felinto, chief of staff at MIDR’s National Secretariat for Civil Protection and Defense.

Commission changes LDO to help municipalities in RS

The Mixed Budget Committee (CMO) of Congress approved, this Wednesday (8), the project (PLN 4/24) that modifies the 2024 Budget Guidelines Law (LDO). The rapporteur of the proposal, deputy AJ Albuquerque (PP-CE), accepted an amendment to the text that allows the government to execute as a priority the sending of parliamentary amendments included in the Budget to cities experiencing public calamity, which is the situation of hundreds of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul . The text still needs to be approved in a joint session of Congress.

Rapporteur of the Budget Guidelines Law (LDO) in the Senate, senator Confúcio Moura (MDB) also stated that the project that will guide the Annual Budget Law (LOA) of 2025 will provide guidance for disaster prevention and resources for cities in the Rio Grande do Sul that were hit by floods.

“It’s a new topic. The Budget Law written by Minister Simone Tebet [do Planejamento] logically did not foresee this. The dramatic situation requires these changes”, said Confucius in an interview with Senate TV. He also stated that he should close the report between July 10th and 17th.

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