In Rio Grande do Sul where there are thousands and thousands of descendants of Italian emigrants and many sections of the International Association of Trevisani nel Mondo, the territories of many municipalities have been completely submerged by water. The flood destroyed roads, bridges, dams, churches and houses, while the partial number of victims officially communicated by the local authorities is 75 and around 200 missing. Porto Alegre, Encantado, Santa Tereza, Bento Goncalves, Estrela, Santa Maria, Villa Prata, San Leopoldo Guaporè, Serafina Correa, Gramado, Mucum are the most affected municipalities. Here people took refuge on the roofs of houses and trees waiting for help to escape the fury of the water. There is a lack of food and drinking water, there is no electricity, telephone lines and internet connections have failed.
It is difficult for Trevisani around the world to get in touch with local contacts, except in some sporadic moments. Residents of the tormented areas have reported with concern that the harvest season has been missed and there will therefore be serious repercussions in the coming years on the economy of a territory whose main activity is agriculture and which is the fourth largest economy in Brazil.
From the first moments the solidarity machine was activated. In many of the areas not affected by the flood, food and basic necessities are being collected to send to the affected areas. Even here in Italy we are taking action since some of the affected municipalities are twinned with Treviso municipalities: this is the case of Encantado and Bagè united with Valdobbiadene with a friendship pact, Bento Gonçalves, of which a delegation was in Valdobbiadene three weeks ago to renew the subscription already completed in Brazil a year ago and Santa Tereza twinned with San Biagio di Callalta.
«In the face of this enormous tragedy it is not possible to do nothing» states Franco Conte, president of Trevisani nel Mondo «we had already demonstrated our solidarity during the floods of September and November last year. We have therefore activated a current account where it is possible to make donations that will alleviate the suffering of some people. It is our intention that what is collected will be delivered directly to the mayors of the municipalities involved because we believe they have the best knowledge of the needs. As Trevisani nel Mondo we have also contacted the consul general of Porto Alegre, Valerio Caruso, so that he can also send us communications on the evolution of the situation: we believe that the official source is certainly the most reliable. The hope is that it will stop raining and that primary assistance can be given to the displaced and needy.”
