The acting president and Minister of Development, Industry and Commerce, Geraldo Alckmin, said this Tuesday (24) that the federal government will transfer R$800 for each homeless person in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, a region that suffers from storms. The resources will be paid to city halls to purchase essential items. 
“We have hundreds of homeless people, so [este recurso] It’s for the city hall to buy mattresses, groceries, clothes, in short, to support”, he said in an interview with journalists, at Palácio do Planalto.
In the latest update, government of Minas Gerais confirmed 28 deaths21 in Juiz de Fora and 7 in Ubá, in addition to 40 people missing. According to state rescue forces, there are still records of people buried.
Still according to the balance, there are 200 homeless people and 400 displaced people in Juiz de Fora. In Ubá there are 14 homeless and 46 homeless. Homeless people are people who have left their homes, due to risk or damage, but have somewhere to go, such as relatives or friends. The homeless have lost or cannot return to their homes and depend on public or social shelters. Alckmin says he spoke with the mayors of both municipalities throughout the day.
The transfer of R$800 per person will be made by the federal government, via the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger (MDS), directly to municipal governments, which control the registration of homeless and homeless families.
Anticipation of benefits
Alckmin also confirmed the advance payment of Bolsa Família and the Continuous Payment Benefit (BPC) for beneficiaries in the affected region. Earlier, the federal government recognized the state of public calamity in Juiz de Fora. The decision allows the immediate start of relief work and humanitarian aid for the affected population.
“All support will be given, the most urgent issue is helping the victims. So, Civil Defense, Ministry of Defense, Army, Health, everyone [está] working”, guaranteed Alckmin.
Federal reinforcement
The acting president said that the Minister of Regional Development, Waldez Góes, and the acting Minister of Health, Adriano Massuda, are already in the region to monitor the rescue work. Teams from the National Force of the Unified Health System (SUS), Civil Defense technicians and Army soldiers are supporting state and local forces in rescuing victims.
The forecast is that new storms will continue to ravage the region. In addition to Juiz de Fora and Ubá, which recorded deaths, six other municipalities in the region were affected.
Alckmin also assured that the federal government will support municipalities in recovering infrastructure destroyed by the rains, such as bridges and other public equipment. And that housing programs, such as Minha Casa Minha Vida, will be offered to families who have lost their homes.
