SILVER SPRING, Md.--Heavy rainfall has saturated northeastern Brazil since early April causing severe flooding throughout the region destroying homes, bridges and thousands of acres of valuable cropland. Rural farmers living along the Amazon River are the most severely affected, and their livelihoods have been devastated by the rising floodwaters, reports the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).

More than 33,000 people have been forced to flee their homes due to the heavy rains, leaving behind personal items and basic household supplies.

"The water just keeps rising," said Jefferson Kern, project coordinator for the ADRA North Brazil office, adding that with the regional rainy season not set to end until May, the continued flooding is raising concerns of increased food scarcity, and the growing risk of water-related diseases.

To meet the immediate needs of survivors, ADRA is providing food baskets stocked with rice, beans, oil, cassava flour, sugar, salt, couscous, and milk powder for more than 400 families in the city of Altamira, in Para state, and an additional 145 baskets for families in the rural region surrounding villages of Manacapuru and Caapiranga, in the state of Amazonas. These food baskets are designed to meet the nutritional needs of beneficiaries for up to 30 days. Each family will also receive additional personal items, including soap, laundry detergent, and toilet paper.

This emergency project is being launched in early May, and will assist approximately 3,370 people. ADRA is targeting the most vulnerable communities, providing assistance primarily for displaced families, children, and the elderly. In rural Manacapuru, farmers who have lost at least 50 percent of their crops are receiving priority aid.

The project is designed to complement the assistance provided by the local government, who is also distributing emergency supplies to survivors.

On April 15, the Brazilian Civil Defense reported that the Rio Negro, one the Amazon River's tributaries, had reached 92 feet (28 meters), and was still rising, affecting 50,000 people in the capital of Amazonas. The country's worst flooding on record occurred in 1953 when the river reached 95 feet (29 meters).

Funders for this emergency response include ADRA International, the ADRA South American Division office, and the ADRA North Brazil Union office.

To send your contribution to ADRA's Emergency Response Fund, please contact ADRA at 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) or give online at www.adra.org.

ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race, or ethnicity.

For more information about ADRA, visit www.adra.org.