During November, the area received 35 inches of rain, eight times higher than the monthly average. Photo courtesy of Defesa Civil de Santa Catarina.

SANTA CATARINA, Brazil - Operation Blessing International is responding to flood-ravaged Santa Catarina, Brazil where 1.5 million people have been affected, including 116 confirmed dead and 80,000 left homeless.

Making matters worse, local officials are investigating reports of a suspected outbreak of leptospirosis, a potentially fatal disease from drinking contaminated water.

Heavy rains in the state started over two months ago. During November, the area received 35 inches of rain, which is eight times higher than the average rainfall of 4.3 inches for the month. Santa Catarina governor Luiz Henrique da Silveira was quoted as saying, "This is the worst climatic tragedy of Santa Catarina's history."

OBI is partnering with the civil defense, Salvation Army and a number of local churches to transport stockpiles of relief supplies to the hardest hit areas. Photo courtesy of Defesa Civil de Santa Catarina.

OBI's Latin American director, Jordan Durso, is in Brazil. The humanitarian organization has partnered with the civil service, Salvation Army and a number of local churches in order to provide much needed transportation and logistical support. OBI has hired trucks and is purchasing fuel in order to transport stockpiles of relief supplies to the hardest hit areas.

Bill Horan, president of OBI, said, "As we have seen in many other natural disasters of this magnitude, great quantities of relief supplies pour into the major cities near the affected areas, but because of roads and other infrastructure being destroyed, the local governments are not prepared to transport those supplies to the victims. In such crises, transportation and orderly distribution are key to breaking the logistical logjam and supplying relief."

Operation Blessing International has coordinated multiple humanitarian efforts in Brazil over the last five years, including medical missions and a remote water project. In April 2008, the charity opened a permanent office in Sao Paulo that has been helping two remote villages with medical attention, clothes, food, and anti-parasite programs.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 1997- 2012 by Operation Blessing International of this page and all contents. No part of this site may be used without prior written consent from OBI. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Email us at operation.blessing@ob.org.