The resources will be destined to the areas of agriculture, social development and civil defense.| Photo: Marcelo Andrade/Gazeta do Povo/Archive

The federal government authorized this Wednesday (22) the transfer of R$ 430 million for emergency actions to cope with the drought in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul. In a note, the Planalto said that the resources will be allocated to the areas of agriculture, social development and civil defense.

The transfer was decided during a meeting between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and ministers to analyze the demands of mayors, deputies, councilors and representative entities of rural workers in Rio Grande do Sul.

Participating in the meeting with Lula were the ministers of the Civil House, Rui Costa; of Cities, Jader Filho; from Institutional Relations, Alexandre Padilha; the Secretary of Communication, Paulo Pimenta; of Integration and Regional Development, Waldez Góes; and the Executive Secretary of the Treasury, Gabriel Galípolo.

Earlier, the government declared an emergency situation due to drought in seven more municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul. Rio Grande do Sul already has 191 cities in an emergency situation due to lack of rain.