{"id":51187,"date":"2019-02-11T10:06:50","date_gmt":"2019-02-11T13:06:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=51187"},"modified":"2019-02-13T10:52:38","modified_gmt":"2019-02-13T13:52:38","slug":"torrential-rains-in-rio-responses-from-mayor-crivella-and-governor-witzel-and-personal-accounts-from-residents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=51187","title":{"rendered":"Rains in Rio: Responses from Mayor Crivella and Governor Witzel and Accounts from Favela Residents"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Por<\/strong>tugu\u00eas<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

On Wednesday, February 6<\/a>, a year and a day after the 2018 summer rains began<\/a>, another storm devastated the city of Rio de Janeiro. The traditional and intensifying summer rains were \u201cunexpected<\/a>\u201d and consisted of \u201ca surprisingly…large amount of water<\/a>,\u201d for Rio’s mayor, Marcelo Crivella. <\/span><\/p>\n

Last year, the mayor responded to the situation from afar<\/a> while on a controversial trip to Europe<\/a>. He went so far as to make jokes at the expense of welfare recipients who were the most affected by the storm, saying they would receive “Balsa Familia” (balsa<\/em>\u00a0is Portuguese for “raft” and the term “Balsa Fam\u00edlia” is a play on words with “Bolsa Fam\u00edlia,” Brazil’s federal welfare program). This year, he quickly arrived at Avenida Niemeyer<\/a>, which connects the South Zone<\/a> to the West Zone<\/a>, where a landslide had struck a bus, killing two people, and parts of the Tim Maia bike path\u2014personally inspected by Crivella less than two weeks prior<\/a>\u2014collapsed<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nIn response, Crivella blamed environmental regulations<\/a>: \u201cIf we had come here to Niemeyer with engineers from Geo-Rio [Rio\u2019s municipal entity for conducting geological assessments] three days ago and they had said that it’s necessary to remove a tree, environmental concerns would certainly have been raised.” Beyond this false blame, Crivella must be unaware that trees are nature’s first defense<\/a> against<\/em> landslides.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nMeanwhile, Wilson Witzel<\/a>, Rio’s new governor, blamed the City of Rio (Mayor Crivella’s administration) and the disorderly occupation<\/a> of the city’s hillsides. The former was certainly at fault: merely R$14.5 million (US$3.5 million) was spent on flood control in 2017 (when Crivella’s mayoral term began), and only R$66 million (US$16.5 million) was spent in 2018\u2014nearly 80% less than the amounts spent in 2014<\/a>\u00a0by the previous administration (see table below). Furthermore, in 2018, the City only spent R$35 million (US$8.75 million) of the R$265 million (US$66 million) allocated for the containment of hillsides, a budget that was reduced to R$72 million (US$18 million) in 2019. These are part of an overall, troubling trend: public spending on favelas has decreased 69% since 2013<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Laying blame on the \u201cdisorderly occupation\u201d of Rio\u2019s hillsides is an age-old tradition\u2014one that is clearly misplaced. This line of thought consists of treating favelas as a problem and not a solution to issues<\/a>\u00a0such as Rio\u2019s housing deficit and urban mobility challenges.\u00a0<\/span>Instead of identifying a century of government neglect and the inadequate provision of public services<\/a>\u00a0as the problem and finally addressing the risks that threaten people’s homes<\/a>, the governor\u00a0<\/span>insists on the need to \u201cremove people from high-risk areas<\/a>,” in line with the position already signaled by Crivella<\/a>. Conveniently, he ignores the fact that the rain caused damage in low-lying areas like Barra de Guaratiba, and in upscale neighborhoods like Jardim Bot\u00e2nico<\/a>. Additionally, he fails to acknowledge that favela residents are not the only people who occupy the hillsides. In the S\u00e3o Conrado<\/a> region, for example, landslides affected wealthy residents living in luxury homes, as shown in the photo below.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Witzel promised to address the favelas most affected by the rains, namely Vidigal and Rocinha, through a program called Comunidade Cidade<\/a> (“Community City”). \u201cThe State Water and Sewerage Utility (CEDAE) will allocate R$500 million (US$125 million) in funding so we can open the roads and have basic sanitation in the region, clear the most critical areas, and collaborate with community members to construct buildings throughout Rocinha,\u201d the governor said to<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>Ag\u00eancia Brasil<\/span><\/i>. Additionally, he announced<\/a> that the Metropolitan Chamber will meet this month, convening mayors from 22 municipalities in the state of Rio. The purpose of the meeting is to \u201cidentify areas where housing can be built for low-income families that live in areas of risk,\u201d rather than joining forces and coordinating the municipalities’ urban planning efforts in order to reduce the impact of recurrent floods and provide dignified housing for local populations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Far from blameworthy, favelas are victims of the floods. The greatest damages were experienced in the hillside communities of Rocinha\u2014where a woman died due to a landslide<\/a>\u2014and in Vidigal<\/a>, where a containment wall broke, harming a woman, and where six people who were injured by collapsed houses were rescued by firemen via helicopter. In low-lying\u00a0Complexo de Manguinhos<\/a>, the overflow of the Cunha Canal impeded transportation, and in\u00a0Acari<\/a>, Military Police tanks continued to patrol the area despite tire-high water, as documented<\/a> by Coletivo Fala Akari<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nIn the North Zone, in\u00a0Complexo do Alem\u00e3o<\/a>‘s Morro do Adeus<\/a>, a cable from the electric-powered cable car (which has been out of service since 2016) broke for the second time<\/a> (the first was in 2013, while the system was still functioning) due to strong winds that reached over 100km per hour, leaving a resident injured. Several communities are experiencing power outages\u2014in Alem\u00e3o, the storm fell on residents’ sixth day without power<\/a>\u00a0and Vila Aut\u00f3dromo<\/a> in Rio’s West Zone is still without electricity today, six days after the storm. Two more deaths occurred in Barra de Guaratiba, in the West Zone of the city, where trees collapsed on a house<\/a>, killing a mother and her son.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Rescue in Vidigal<\/h3>\n

One of the people rescued by firemen via helicopter in Vidigal was Thalita, 21, who was with her three-month-old son Bernardo when water began to seep through the window of her house. Wellington Ferreira, Bernardo’s father, recounts that when the water started to rise, Thalita wrapped Bernardo in a blanket and took him to a house located on higher ground. “A few minutes after they went up, followed by Thalita’s grandmother, a boulder rolled down the hill\u2014landing between them in the middle of the living room and pressing everyone up against the wall. There were many broken wires and bricks. Thalita, her younger sister, and her grandmother were injured. Through the opening made by the rock, our neighbor inserted a ladder to help rescue everyone. Thalita and the others who were most severely injured were taken to the hospital via helicopter.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nAt the time of the incident Ferreira was at the flower shop where he works. His friend said that some houses had collapsed in an area of Vidigal known as Jaqueira. Due to the closure of access roads leading to Vidigal and because of the landslides, he couldn’t get to Thalita’s house. “It was pitch-dark. No one could see very well. If I had been there, I would have been another fatality in this disaster because I wouldn’t have been able to ignore a neighbor crying out for help.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\n<\/span>With no word of Thalita and their son, Ferreira tried to remain calm and prepared himself to search for them the following day. The next morning, he set out for Vidigal but was barred from proceeding by the Civil Defense. “I climbed down over the rocks until gaining access to the exit [to the community] on the beach,” he recounts, showing how he managed to reach the favela. “Now I feel that it is my obligation to help the whole family rebuild,” said the 23-year-old man. Ferreira recently won second place in the first edition of Desafio Seu Amanh\u00e3<\/a> (“Your Tomorrow Challenge”), a competition designed to share knowledge and opportunities with youth from favelas. Ferreira created an online crowdfunding campaign<\/a>\u00a0to raise support in order to rebuild.<\/p>\n

He intends to help not only through his work at the flower shop but also through his dream of owning a company that helps youth create art and culture. “During my childhood, I couldn’t be an actor. My father said that it was almost impossible in the Baixada Fluminense,” says Ferreira, who grew up in Jardim Metr\u00f3poles in S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o de Meriti<\/a>. “So I don’t want other children to give up on their dreams because they don’t have money for bus fares\u2014I don’t want new MCs to miss out on participating in cultural events because they don’t have money for transportation and food.”<\/p>\n

Alternative Media Coverage in Rocinha<\/h3>\n

Rocinha community journalist Michel Silva shared a series of updates on the situation in the community. At 2:36am, he posted<\/a>:<\/p>\n

I’m walking in Rocinha right now. Many residents lost furniture. Business owners are cleaning up their shops. There are many trails of destruction in the alleyways. A young woman died, trapped in the upper part of the favela. The man who was swept away by the water<\/a> survived. There are still other locations that are at risk of landslides.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The following morning, he assessed the damage<\/a>:<\/p>\n

I’ve been in the streets since 5am. There are landslides in at least four places in Rocinha. The most serious one was in Dioneia, in the upper part of Rocinha, where a house was swallowed by the mud. Residents escaped with water up to their chests. Some wooden shacks were impacted near Morro Dois Irm\u00e3os, with no reported injuries. There is a trail of destruction along Estrada da G\u00e1vea. Hundreds of houses are without power; there is no estimated restoration time. There are reports that many houses were flooded.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\n<\/span>The following morning, Silva\u00a0continued to denounce<\/a>:<\/p>\n

The Civil Defense has only one team working in Rocinha. It’s the favela that was most severely impacted by the storm, with landslides in several locations. The next storm that comes will worsen the situation on the hillsides. There’s a lot of mud. Many trees need to be trimmed. Many families are being neglected by public aid agencies. If nothing is done, it will be an announced tragedy.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Residents reported that they were not able to leave to go to work or take their children to school. Many spent the day removing mud<\/a>, trash, and debris from houses, as well as appliances<\/a>, motorcycles<\/a>, and cars that had been swept up by the storm. One resident reported that she had to break a hole in a wall in her house so that the water inside could drain. Trash collectors and environmental workers<\/a> from the De Olho no Lixo<\/a> project reinforced residents’ efforts.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nIn response to photos of trash-filled streets following the storm, many residents spoke out about the practices of neighbors who do not properly dispose of waste. On the Rocinha em Foco<\/em> Facebook page<\/a>, one resident stated her opinion:<\/p>\n

Guys, it’s the government’s fault insofar as there isn’t waste treatment, basic sanitation, or a decent sewage system. The community doesn’t have anywhere to throw away trash. We have to be conscious of the fact that without educating people, no one will know what to do. The mayor abandoned this city. If they were interested in resolving [the issue], they would have implemented a trash collection system. But for Crivella, poor people are only good for paying taxes<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Another resident expressed:<\/p>\n

But guys?! So, where do you throw out your trash??? On my street, there are NO adequate places. If not on the street, am I supposed to wait for COMLURB [the municipal waste collection utility] to come by and hand deliver it to the trash collectors\u2014I have to work, don’t I?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In light of the situation, a reporter from Voz das Comunidades<\/a><\/em> made an appeal<\/a> to social media users:<\/p>\n

JOURNALIST FRIENDS IN RIO DE JANEIRO!<\/p>\n

Let’s cover and share everything that’s happening in Rocinha and Vidigal, holding authorities responsible and helping the residents of these favelas. People lost their homes, some died, there’s lots of debris and mud in the streets…AND THERE’S EVEN THE RISK OF TWO LARGE BOULDERS FALLING ON RESIDENTS’ HOMES IN VIDIGAL.<\/p>\n

Social media accounts of people who you can contact and follow to find out what is happening in the two favelas:\u00a0Edu Carvalho<\/a>,\u00a0Michele Silva<\/a>,\u00a0Michel Silva<\/a>, and\u00a0Roberta Rodrigues<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If you live outside of Rio de Janeiro and want to support victims, you can donate to\u00a0Catalytic Communities<\/a>, the Brazilian NGO and USA 501[c][3] nonprofit that publishes RioOnWatch,\u00a0here<\/a>, and 100% of your contribution will be passed on to community groups organizing donations below. Please write \u201c2019 Rains\u201d in the \u201cearmark\u201d category. Or simply message donate@catcomm.org informing us that your contribution is earmarked for \u201c2019 Rains.\u201d<\/em><\/h4>\n

FORM TO DONATE FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fill out this form<\/a>\u00a0and the organizers will do their best to connect you with someone who would love to receive your donation.<\/p>\n

DONATION DROP-OFF LOCATIONS IN ROCINHA<\/strong><\/p>\n

📍\u00a0Baptist Church
\nEstrada da G\u00e1vea, 436. Phone: +55 (21) 2420-4743
\nLocated in front of the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) buildings. Accepting donations of water, non-perishable foods, personal hygiene items, and cleaning supplies for affected residents\u2014in addition to volunteers to personally help clean up houses.
\nNo set hours.<\/p>\n

📍\u00a0Pizza Lit
\nLocated on the “S” Curve
\nOpens at 5pm<\/p>\n

📍\u00a0Viniciu\u2019s Beverage Supply
\nLocated in Roupa Suja
\nOpens at 12pm<\/p>\n

DONATION DROP-OFF LOCATION IN VIDIGAL<\/strong><\/p>\n

📍\u00a0Donations at the Residents’ Association: Avenida Presidente Jo\u00e3o Goulart, 737 \u2013 Motorcycle taxi drivers are also providing assistance.<\/p>\n

DONATION DROP-OFF LOCATION OUTSIDE OF ROCINHA<\/strong><\/p>\n

So far we have confirmed four places that are accepting donations OUTSIDE of the community for residents of Rocinha. See below:<\/p>\n

📍\u00a0Oi Kabum Lab \u2013 located in downtown Rio
\nRua Benedito Hip\u00f3lito, 125
\n3rd Floor \u2013 in front of Terreir\u00e3o do Samba<\/p>\n

📍\u00a0Cultura Inglesa \u2013 located in Jardim Bot\u00e2nico
\nRua Saturnino de Brito, 74<\/p>\n

📍\u00a0Pontifical Catholic University Association of Employees \u2013 located in G\u00e1vea
\nRua Marqu\u00eas de S\u00e3o Vicente, 225<\/p>\n

📍\u00a0S\u00e3o Conrado Driving School
\nEstrada da G\u00e1vea, 847 \u2013 Store C<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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