This past week, devastating floods swept through Brazil and parts of East Africa. These catastrophic events claimed hundreds of lives, displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and damaged critical infrastructure. Amidst the world’s ongoing crises, these disasters must not go unnoticed.
In Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, incessant rainfall and unrelenting flooding have overwhelmed the state, affecting 70% of the area. This has resulted in over 150,000 people displaced and at least 85 deaths. The situation is dire, with multiple dams burst and over a dozen on the brink of collapse.
Simultaneously, East Africa faces unprecedented threats from its first-ever cyclone, leading to tremendous rainfall and severe flooding that have already taken 200 lives and displaced over 200,000 individuals.
When such disasters strike, the livelihoods of local communities are sent into shock as they cope with emotional, material, cultural, and infrastructural losses. And yet, in the face of disaster, we know that those same local communities are always the much-needed first responders.