The World Bank is extending emergency support to the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, which has been severely affected by recent rains and floods. Approximately US$125 million (around R$625 million) from ongoing projects are immediately available for reallocation. The funds are sourced from the "Urban Resilience Program in Southern Brazil", "Revitalization Program for the Central Area of Porto Alegre", and "Support Program for the New Bolsa Família". Moreover, World Bank teams are offering technical assistance in damage assessment, resource prioritization, and fund deployment.
In addition to financial aid, World Bank teams are providing complimentary technical assistance to federal, state, and municipal authorities to manage a multitude of decisions and actions required across various sectors. This includes damage and needs assessments, action planning, and strategies to ensure efficient fund execution. Prioritization is based on the government's most urgent needs and is closely coordinated with other partners.
The institution is also discussing with federal, state, and municipal governments as well as the Regional Development Bank of the Far South (BRDE) about making new resources available on an expedited basis. These resources will be used to finance recovery efforts and provide technical assistance in structuring what is being referred to as a “Marshall Plan” for rebuilding the state. This includes developing urban resilience and flood mitigation structures.
“The World Bank stands in solidarity with the population of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, so affected by the recent disaster,” stated Sophie Naudeau, Acting Director and Operations Manager of the World Bank for Brazil. She added that they have extensive experience in crisis management and reconstruction related to natural disasters worldwide. This knowledge will be applied towards facilitating rapid recovery in the state. They are also prepared to collaborate with competent authorities to prevent future disasters from causing significant personal and material damage.
Events like those experienced in Rio Grande do Sul underscore the need for increased preparation for future climate-related events, which are expected to become more frequent. Recently, the World Bank approved a new set of crisis response tools designed to allow countries to quickly redirect unused resources in their portfolio for emergency relief, making it easier and faster.