Heavy rainfall and the controlled opening of the Capivari dam caused severe flooding across the Ribeira Valley in São Paulo, Brazil, affecting around 582 Quilombola families in six communities in the municipality of Eldorado. Flooded roads have left communities isolated, homes have been inundated and agricultural production, an essential source of food and income, has been heavily damaged. Access to markets, health services and other essential services has also been disrupted. In response, ACT Alliance has approved USD 62,502 from its Rapid Response Fund to support an emergency response led by KOINONIA – Ecumenical Presence and Service.
The three-month response will prioritise 200 of the most affected families, reaching approximately 800 people across the six Quilombola communities. Assistance will include cash support delivered to women heading affected households, access to safe water and essential hygiene items, support for clearing roads and homes, community-based psychosocial support and advocacy related to the management of the Capivari dam. The response will be implemented in close coordination with community leaders and volunteers from the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB), with affected communities directly involved in identifying priorities, providing feedback and guiding implementation.
