The Spanish Embassy in Brazil is going to help diminish the effects of drought in the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil. On November 26, the Spanish Ambassador to Brazil, José Cordech, handed a US$ 36.5 thousand (R$ 100 thousand) check to the Minister of Social Development and Hunger Alleviation, Patrus Ananias, for the Zero Hunger Program.
According to the Minister, the funds will be used for the construction of cisterns in the semi-arid Northeastern region.
The Brazilian government intends to finish the construction of 50 thousand cisterns in the region by the end of this year. The goal for next year is to build 50 thousand more. Each cistern costs around US$ 500 (R$ 1.4 thousand) and is capable of storing 16b thousand liters of rainwater.
According to the Ministry, this volume is sufficient for a family of nine people to survive the drought season, which lasts from six to nine months.
“Water is a part of a healthy diet and also makes it possible for families to develop projects of sustainability, planting gardens, crops, and some community projects, improving nutritional conditions and creating conditions for work and income generation,” the Minister pointed out.
Ananias informed that the Zero Hunger Project has already received US$ 3.9 million (10.7 million reais) in financial contributions.
The Spanish Embassy has collaborated with the project since last year, when it donated US$ 36.5 thousand (R$ 100 thousand), collected through a golf match and a tennis tournament.
During his meeting with Ananias, the Spanish Ambassador also announced the donation of two thousand tons of food to the Zero Hunger Program, through the Spanish International Cooperation Agency.
According to Cordech, the food should arrive in Brazil by the end of January, 2005.
Agência Brasil
Translator: David Silberstein