"We are a small country, but we have a heart of solidarity"
La Paz, May 21 (RHC)-- The Government of Bolivia has delivered 70 tons of humanitarian aid to Brazil to help families affected by the floods.
The Minister of Defense, Edmundo Novillo, expressed at the Viru Viru airport: “Brazil had to regret the loss of human lives, loss of materials, productive areas, generating an emergency situation and a very difficult situation for the people of the southern part of Brazil.
"We have understood the mandate of our President Luis Arce and commitment between people. We are a small country, but we have a heart of solidarity," he said.
Novillo stressed: "After learning about the situation that the brother people of Brazil were going through, our president has communicated with the president of Brazil, brother Lula da Silva, to let him know all of his feelings of solidarity and support." "For this reason, the Cabinet has decided (...) to be able to send our support, our solidarity as the Bolivian people," he added.
The aid, delivered to the Brazilian consul in Bolivia, Artur Saravia, who thanked the Bolivians for the gesture, consists of non-perishable foods such as rice, sugar, powdered milk, oil, water, beans, as well as canvas tents, blankets, country store, diapers, mattresses among others.
Saravia stressed that the floods in southern Brazil are of biblical proportions and affirmed that they have not yet ended. The Brazilian diplomat said: “I not only saw the anonymous heroism of so many people who risked their lives to save strangers, but also the immense generosity of the Bolivian people in the difficult tasks of reconstruction (…). In this sad moment, while the dead are still being counted, I once again witness the great generosity of Bolivians who extend their hands to their Brazilian brothers.”
According to the Brazilian Civil Defense, the floods that hit the south of the country left around 161 dead, 127 missing, 806 injured, and around 464 municipalities affected, and 72,561 people remain in temporary shelters.
