Extreme rains have caused severe flooding in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, with over 2.1 million people affected. More than 600,000 people have been displaced from their homes, with many living in makeshift shelters.
As the second winter of the pandemic rolls in, the COVID-19 situation in Brazil is again deeply concerning, with national and international experts warning of a third devastating wave. The response remains fragmented and decentralised and the central authorities continue to disregard science—and the importance of masks and social distancing—in their health messaging.
Brazil’s COVID-19 pandemic has spread to its most vulnerable communities—residents of slums, the homeless, and indigenous and minority groups—causing the death toll to skyrocket in a country where leadership still debates the very existence of the virus.
As COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, many people are unable to shelter in relative safety. With increased infection rates among homeless populations in Brazil, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams are adapting activities to provide aid to the most vulnerable.
