The SOS RS Portugal group has raised four tons of products for the victims of the floods in Rio Grande do Sul, but admits difficulties in getting the aid to Brazil, even considering donating the goods to Ukraine.
“At themoment weare in contact with airlines, which have not confirmed anything, so nothing has been released. But there is a great possibility that some of these donations will be taken there. So our entire organization (…) is getting in touch with the government of Rio Grande do Sul” to find out what can be sent and how, i.e. by air and sea, and “who are the institutions that will receive these donations”, said the spokeswoman for the private initiative group, speaking to Lusa today.
“It’s not going to sit idle in a warehouse,” promised Andrezza Nascimento, who said they had already received around four tons of products, while also guaranteeing that the group is “in negotiations” with airlines and businessmen and is in contact with the government of the state of Rio Grande do Sul to see how it can get that aid to them.
If they can’t get the aid to Brazil, the spokeswoman admits to channeling the aid to other countries, such as Ukraine, after one of the group’s members guaranteed on social media that transportation to Brazil would be provided by air.
“We’re going to do everything possible and imaginable so that everything donated is sent to people who need it, whether they’re people in Brazil and Rio Grande do Sul, or people, for example, in the war in Ukraine,” she said.
According to the spokeswoman, that member of the group posted on social media that transportation was guaranteed, which hasn’t happened yet, and the issue is still “under negotiation”.
According to the spokeswoman, the group will continue to receive donations at Espaço Rios, in Lisbon’s Campolide neighborhood, until Friday.
She added that the group had to find a warehouse in Cacém, with the support of Brazilian businessmen, to house the products, since the response to the request for donations was higher than expected.
The same source complains about the lack of support from the Portuguese and Brazilian governments in the logistics of transporting the aid, but says he understands this reaction, admitting that the group has “lost credibility” for spreading misinformation.
On Wednesday, the consulates-general of Brazil in Lisbon and Porto clarified in a statement sent to newsrooms that “they have no relation whatsoever with personal initiatives regarding the donation of goods and valuables to those affected by the floods in Rio Grande do Sul”.
They also recommended that “those interested in making donations of any kind should find out about the initiatives and official means made available by the Federal Government and the government of Rio Grande do Sul”.
Faced with this situation, the Lisbon branch of the Workers’ Party (PT, in power in Brazil) said in a statement released today that it had consulted with the Brazilian Embassy in Portugal and the Consulate in Lisbon, stating that “such initiatives are not endorsed by either the Brazilian or the Portuguese government”.
The PT also stresses that “no flight from Portugal with aid to Rio Grande do Sul is currently scheduled and that Porto Alegre airport is closed”.
The PT note reiterates that solidarity contributions should be made by institutional means, to organizations such as the Landless Movement (MST), and that a link has been created for this purpose (https://apoia.se/sos_mst).
