São Paulo (AP) – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights calls for a permanent monitoring system to track Brazil’s compliance with its recommendations after a devastating flood that struck south of Brazil a year ago.
Javier Palummo, the Commission’s Special Rapporteur, told the Associated Press on Thursday that the initiative aims to maintain the permanent access of the Brazilian government and “enhance public responsibility, making international responsibility a risk of frustration to good practices and monitoring, especially in the most affected areas and among vulnerable groups.”
Between April and May 2024, unprecedented floods hit nearly all cities in southern Rio Grande. More than 2.3 million people were affected. According to official data, tens of thousands of displaced people have died. Analysts compared the scale of damage to the size of Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans in 2005.
A new report released by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on Wednesday highlights the stark inequality in the recovery process. Indigenous and Quilombola communities (descendants of escaped slaves), women face significant challenges for women’s families and unpopular people in access to reconstruction assistance and public services.
“These groups are often reported to be excluded from the recovery plan,” Palomo said. “The lack of land formalization and limited institutional participation strengthens historic inequality.”
Palummo visited the flooded area in December. He cited the unity of a Quilombola community, where women lead the relief efforts are particularly moving. He also pointed out the people of Mbyá-Guarani in Eldorado do Sul, who first lost their houses and schools, then flooded and then entered a construction project. They are now forced to reset near the highway and they now face insecurity, health risks and cultural losses.
“These catastrophes are not only natural – they have worsened by long-term neglect,” he said. “They reflect fundamental structural inequality and growing climate vulnerability driven by unplanned urban growth, environmental degradation and environmental racism.”
He said the report was the first of the committee affiliated with the U.S. National Organization. Palummo will present the findings to Alegre Porto and local communities of federal and state officials next week. He will also speak at a public hearing in Brasília on 8 May.
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