Samaritan’s Purse is in Southern Brazil, partnering with local churches to meet overwhelming needs.
When the Guiba River’s levee system was compromised, all but three neighbourhoods in the city of Canoas were suddenly, violently flooded. Any buildings still above water became shelters and distribution centres as donations poured into the region from across Brazil.
As floodwaters now recede, new needs are uncovered, and Samaritan’s Purse continues to support churches, community leaders, and volunteers who are working tirelessly to care for displaced people. As we partner together to meet physical needs, Brazilian Christians and our Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) are able to practically demonstrate the hope of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Scrambling to Meet Overwhelming Needs
On May 4 at 6 p.m., Vice Principal Marcia Tavares received a phone call from the city government. She was told to gather her staff and go to their school because it may become a shelter for flood survivors. Soon, buses full of people with nowhere else to turn pulled up to the school. Many arrived empty-handed, soaking wet, and shoeless.
“We didn’t have time to process at first,” she said. “We were just running around trying to find food and clothes for them.”
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“I was trying to be strong since the 4th of May,” the vice principal continued. “But the first time that I cried was when you guys came here and prayed with us and gave us a hug.”
No matter their profession, working in the wake of this catastrophe isn’t a job anyone was expecting, and the needs are overwhelming.
“It seems that the first day hasn’t come to an end yet,” said Pastor Isaac, whose church regularly distributes food, bottled water, clothes, and other items to 400 people. “It seems that we’re still living the Friday night when the flood started.”
Pastor Isaac explained that many of the beneficiaries who come to pick up donations are traumatised by the disaster. He points out the words on the wall of the church, “You are not alone,” and prays for them while meeting their physical needs.
![](https://samaritanspurse.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2451BR-B5-047.jpg)
Samaritan’s Purse quickly set up a community water system at Pastor Isaac’s church. The new system can provide clean water for up to 10,000 people a day, and it’s just one of 10 systems sent to Brazil aboard relief flights by Samaritan’s Purse 757 and DC-8 aircraft.
Most water points are set up at churches with a lot of foot traffic so anyone walking down the street can access the water.
Offering Water and Hope
In another part of Canoas, Marilia was out on a walk when she noticed a line coming from a church courtyard. Curious, she joined it and was excited to learn people were getting an unlimited amount of free, drinking water.
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“We were having to ration our water for everything,” Marilia said. “We were using water, reusing water. When we would wash dishes with water, we would put it back in the bottle and reuse it.”
Collecting water at the same time as Marilia, Paulo added, “This water came at a good time, and it’s good water. Look, let me tell you something; not even our treated water is as good as this one.”
Both Paulo and Marilia have returned to the water point in their neighbourhood multiple times. While there, they’ve befriended those living on site, including Pastor Ricardo, who shares their experience of fleeing the floodwaters.
![](https://samaritanspurse.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2451BR-B6-209.jpg)
Despite his loss, Pastor Ricardo is full of hope, and he’s quick to share the reason.
![](https://samaritanspurse.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2451BR-B6-404-Ricardo.jpg)
As displaced people begin returning home, they will come face to face with what they’ve lost. Samaritan’s Purse is beginning Biblically based trauma recovery workshops to equip pastors, volunteers, and community leaders to take care of themselves as well as others in the months to come.
Nahil from Brisbane helping to establish clean water systems
More Stories From Our Brazil Floods Response
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Aid Being Delivered to Flood Survivors in Brazil
Samaritan’s Purse is supporting local churches in Brazil as they shelter those whose homes are underwater in the country’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul.
![](https://samaritanspurse.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2451BR-B3-418.jpg)
Catastrophic Floods in Brazil
Over 100 people confirmed dead, 160,000+ displaced and nearly 1.5million affected by heavy rains, flash flooding and landslides.