“There are people who continue to sell lies and misfortunes,” said the Brazilian president. | Photo: @AndreteleSUR

Brasilia, May 15 (RHC)-- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has denounced the false news and misinformation that have harmed those who work and need assistance in Rio Grande do Sul after the floods.

“There are people who continue to sell lies and misfortunes,” said the Brazilian president.

With the Share the Truth message line, the president reported that all the ministers of the Federal Government also met to talk about the actions taken so far to help Rio Grande do Sul at this time of climate emergency.

“We will have more announcements in the coming days for the reconstruction of the state, hand in hand with the state government and the municipalities,” said Lula in a context where 148 people have died after the floods in the country.

According to the multiplatform teleSUR correspondent, a study by the University of Sao Paulo states that there was a four-fold increase in the amount of fake news about the situation in Rio Grande do Sul on social networks.  The study shows that the groups that disseminated the information coincide with the deniers of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

On the other hand, the Government reported that the digital platform Brasil Participativo gained a space dedicated to meeting the most varied demands of Río Grande do Sul.

“The federal government announces daily the decisions of the various ministries to help provide immediate assistance to the victims of the Rio Grande do Sul tragedy and measures to contribute to the reconstruction of what the floods took from cities and families. The updating of this information in Participatory Brazil will be permanent,” the entity stated.

The platform specified that “Participatory Brazil contains information on the remission of interest and the suspension of the debt of Rio Grande do Sul with the Union, the exemption of tolls for the transportation of donations, the location of field hospitals, the most necessary, the anticipation of income tax refunds, the withdrawal of calamities from the FGTS, risk alerts, hydrological monitoring, among others.”

The Government declared that there are 27,000 professionals mobilized, 443 tons of food delivered or in transit and seven field hospitals.