Floods isolate quilombola communities in Paraná, Brazil
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Heavy rains in the Vale do Ribeira region, spanning São Paulo and Paraná states in Brazil, have caused flooding that is disrupting life for Quilombola communities on the Paraná side.
Residents of Estreitinho, a community 165 kilometers from Adrianópolis, lost power and agricultural production, their primary income, due to the storms. The loss of electricity and lack of internet access also hinder communication during emergencies and prevent residents from receiving civil defense alerts.
In João Surá, community members worry about releases from the Rio Capivari dam, which increase flood risks without adequate warning. Rising waters have blocked sections of the BR-476 highway, limiting access to healthcare and food supplies for the community, which relies on deliveries from Curitiba. Gedielson Ramos, president of the Córrego das Moças residents’ association, stated that blocked roads prevent humanitarian aid from reaching affected areas, and the municipality lacks the resources to fully respond to the emergencies.
Community members are requesting generators and internet access to improve their ability to respond to future floods and to communicate their needs.
