When it signed the UN Millennium Development Goals agreement, Brazil assumed responsibilities like ending poverty and hunger, reducing child mortality, achieving universal K-12 education.

In early April, however, UNICEF issued an alert: Fulfilling these goals will depend upon a concentrated effort in the semi-arid region of Brazil.

That region, comprising the states of the Northeast and the northern parts of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo States, is forgotten by all, except during the epochs of drought, when the media delivers dramatic images of sick children and starving mothers to Brazilian homes.

Nevertheless, the region’s advantages remain unrecognized: natural potential; cultural wealth; and a population adaptable to climatic conditions.

The semi-arid region is not dry but suffers from poor distribution of rainy periods, scarcity of perennial rivers and bad storage of water, which becomes contaminated by vermin and by animal use.

Thirst, hunger and illnesses like diarrhea and cholera affect the life of its inhabitants. To these are added the stigmas already familiar to the Brazilian people: low levels of schooling; insufficient health services; disorderly occupation of urban space; child labor.

It is not possible to change the natural conditions of the semi-arid region, but it is possible to coexist with them. In the region, many simple, inexpensive ideas have already been put into practice.

One example is the capture and storage of rainwater for human consumption utilizing a local technology: home cisterns made with pre-molded plates invented by a mason living in the region.

Supplied with clean water for crops and farm animals, the region’s families can undertake productive activities using time formerly wasted in looking for water. The initiative receives financing from the Ministry of Social Development and Combating Hunger.

The semi-arid region’s problems, which are reflected in the national statistics, will only be solved with public policies that involve local residents, thus ending the compensatory, sporadic practices formulated for severe droughts.

Eliminate illiteracy; increase family income, thus putting the brakes on the rural exodus. Utilize the local workforce to build the infrastructure for the benefit of the family itself, while at the same time guaranteeing standard-of-living improvement, transmission of local knowledge and income generation. Guarantee social organization so that the necessities will be transformed into demands.

President Lula recently launched the Credit for Equality of Rural Women program. But the semi-arid region needs more.

According to the UNICEF study "Children and Adolescents of the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region," child mortality is greater than the nacional average in 95% of the region’s cities; 350 thousand children do not attend school; 43% of the population is illiterate; one in every six children between the ages of 10 and 15 is in the workforce; 88% of the families have a per capita income less than US$ 50 a month.

Climatic conditions cannot justify this situation of exclusion. It is necessary to correct the historic lack of investments, basic policies, employment and income generating programs. To involve the school, the family and the community in the search for and the implementation of local solutions.

This is why UNICEF launched a National Accord for the Semi-Arid Region called "A World for Children and Adolescents," a joint venture of government and civil society giving national dimension to a drama that should have already been on the political agenda.

The semi-arid region needs a Social Shock: concrete changes and a reorientation of resources guaranteeing inclusion and social justice.

Cristovam Buarque has a Ph.D. in economics. He is a PT senator for the Federal District and was Governor of the Federal District (1995-98) and Minister of Education (2003-04). You can visit his homepage - www.cristovam.com.br - and write to him at cristovam@senador.gov-br.

Translated from the Portuguese by Linda Jerome - LinJerome@cs.com.

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