Cities in an emergency situation due to drought in RS can request resources to assist residents.| Photo: Paola Stumpf/SEMA

The Ministry of Integration and Regional Development declared an emergency situation due to the drought in seven more cities in Rio Grande do Sul, according to a Civil Defense ordinance published this Wednesday (22). The decree covers the municipalities of Derrubadas, Eugênio de Castro, Garruchos, Gramado Xavier, Rio Grande, Santo Ângelo and Tunas.

With that, the state of Rio Grande do Sul already has 191 cities in emergency due to lack of rain (see in full). According to the ministry, the decree allows states to request funds for relief, assistance to victims, establishment of essential services and reconstruction of destroyed or damaged infrastructure.

A series of new assistance measures for those affected by the drought in the state will be announced this Thursday (23) by minister Waldez Góes, during a visit to the city of Hulha Negra. According to the portfolio, the delegation also includes the ministers of Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture, Paulo Teixeira; from Agriculture Livestock and Supply, Carlos Favaro; of Social Development, Wellington Dias and the Chief Minister of the Secretariat for Social Communication, Paulo Pimenta.

Also this Wednesday (22), the ministry announced the transfer of more than R$ 11.5 million in resources to assist those affected by natural disasters in five states of the country: Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo, Bahia, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. Holy.

In all, the ministry has already released R$ 142 million in resources this year alone for Civil Defense assistance actions, according to Minister Waldez Góes.