Updated on
Summary
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff announced Thursday that her government has decided to build 8,000 new homes for giving free of cost to the poor left homeless by the recent floods and mudslides in the Rio de Janeiro state. Rousseff said the free houses would be provided to those living in government run-shelters after their houses were destroyed, as well as to those forced out of their homes over fears of further floods and mudslides. The Brazilian president added that 6,000 of the planned new houses would be funded by the state and federal governments, while the remaining 2000 would be donated by a consortium of construction companies. The new homes would be built on public land, with the construction cost being subsidized by the federal government and the construction companies. The Rio de Janeiro state government would then pay the monthly installments on behalf of the families that move into the new homes. Their pain is insurmountable, and their loss has no price, but this initiative can improve the situation a little, Rousseff said while making the announcement at a joint press conference with Rio de Janeiro state Governor Sergio Cabral. Rousseff said her government has already initiated actions to prevent a repeat of the disaster and added that federal funds would be mobilized to rebuild roads and bridges, construct drainage systems and stabilize hillsides to prevent further mudslides. The floods and mudslides triggered by torrential rains had struck a mountainous region in Rio de Janeiro state earlier this month, displacing thousands. It is estimated that more than 800 people were killed in the disaster, with over 500 people still reported missing.
