Torrential rains brought deadly floods and landslides across the northeastern state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Recife, the state capital, and nearby Olinda are both located close to rivers and canals and were severely damaged as a result of the flooding. Climate change can contribute to intense rainfall and according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Recife is one of the world’s most vulnerable cities.
With shelters and churches receiving aid from local groups, WCK served thousands of hot meals to hard-hit communities without any support. One of our partners, a women-owned kitchen, recently opened and with our support was able to purchase new equipment to expand capacity. WCK was the only international NGO on the ground and following hot meal distribution we provided food kits.
By the numbers
Hot meals served
Food kits distributed
each equivalent to 25 meals
Amara
Amara
In the community of Beira-Rio in Recife, we met Amara who lives with her husband—a delivery worker—and three kids ages 2, 6, and 13. “I’ve only seen people affected by floods on TV, it had never happened to me before. My kids and I were rescued by the neighbors who used a water tank. We got inside it and were dragged to a safer place because we can’t swim”.
José
José
Standing in whats left of his wooden house, José told us that he and his wife lost everything, including their car. Despite the situation, José smiled and said, “The food is great! If it wasn’t for the meals, the situation would be even worse. All the assistance we’ve been receiving has been helping a lot.”
Gleicekelly
Gleicekelly
With her husband and two kids, Gleicekelly lives in a house situated in front of the Capibaribe River. She’s lived there since she was 7, and recently used all her income to improve her home. However, during the last rain storms, the river level reached her house and damaged the structure of two bedrooms creating big cracks under the floor and on the walls obligating her family to leave. “I piled all my stuff on a table, but the water reached the surface of the table very fast and I realized we couldn’t stay, so we moved to my mother’s place nearby.”
