By Elisa Cappai | Junior Project Manager
Dear Donors,
Climate change gives Brazil no respite. Following the devastating floods that hit the country during the summer, there has been a turnaround since October, leading to a record drought. It has been reported that the Amazon River has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1902. A water shortage that damages the ecosystem and disrupts the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. The shoal caused a blockade of river navigation, interrupting supplies of food and water in the most remote villages. The port of Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonas and the most populous city in the region, at the meeting between the Rio Negro and the Amazon River, recorded 13 meters of water compared to 17 a year ago. According to data from the Brazilian Civil Protection Agency, the drought affects 481,000 people.
In addition, thousands of fires have broken out in Brazil since the beginning of November, fueled by extreme heat waves and drought. Manaus was enveloped in a pall of smoke from the thousands of fires set during the autumn in the forest surrounding it; fires that made the air unbreathable. The Brazilian state government has declared an environmental emergency for 60 days due to scorching temperatures. The extreme heat waves that hit the South American country contributed to the outbreak of the fires, recording peaks of up to 58 degrees perceived due to the humidity. The drought then made the situation even more complicated, making the land arid and perfect for spreading of flames.
In this difficult phase, we have to provide support to the Brazilian population and to our children and teenagers in Manaus, victims of sexual abuse and exploitation who continuously receive legal, health and psychological assistance. The “Little Butterflies” project would not be possible without the precious support of our local partner, the Manaus Archdiocese Psychological Support Service for Families (SAPFAM), which is aware of the importance of training its operators to improve the quality of the services offered to our young recipients. For this reason, at the end of November at the headquarters of the Archdiocesan Caritas of Manaus, training sessions were held in which took part various public and civil society actors who work every day in the name of service, defense, protection and guarantee of the rights of children and adolescents. This training allows operators to stay updated on the procedures and assistance techniques to help children and teenagers who have been victims of sexual abuse to regain their psychological and physical identity.
Your contribution can make a difference in helping the most vulnerable. Thank you for supporting our work, we appreciate your commitment!
By Francesca Pellegatta | Junior Project Leader
By Francesca Pellegatta | Junior Project Manager
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