The Caterpillar Foundation donated $100,000 to help rebuild Brazilian communities destroyed by the floods and mudslides in the country’s worst natural disaster.
With support from Caterpillar, PADF and its local partner, Viva Rios, workers will remove mud and debris from the most affected alleys and streets, as well as provide basic health care to prevent epidemics through family medicine and mobile health practitioners. They will also disseminate water treatment supplies, coordinate reforestation of the areas near affected water sources and enhance Viva Rios’ already successful “Community Protection Brigades” model. The program is expected to last six months.
Officials estimate 842 people died, some 8,775 are homeless and another 20,000 people had to abandon their residences because of the disaster. Three communities north of Rio de Janeiro –Teresopolis, Nova Friburgo and Petropolis – were heavily affected by the torrential rains and massive mudslides.
