Tatiana Cesso
Amazon has launched its global disaster relief program to aid over 3,000 families affected by flooding in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The company has partnered with two Brazilian international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Ação da Cidadania and G10 Favelas, to provide essential supplies including food, water filters, hygiene kits, and blankets.
In addition to these donations, Amazon volunteers are collecting further relief supplies in São Paulo to support the local Red Cross, with the company also offering transport logistics support to deliver supplies to Rio Grande do Sul.
Daniel Mazini, country manager at Amazon Brazil, emphasized the importance of swift action, stating, “In a state of emergency like the one Rio Grande do Sul is experiencing, we know that the first few hours and days are critical for communities to recover so we quickly mobilized our disaster relief program to meet the needs of those affected in the region.”
Amazon is also leveraging its technological expertise through Amazon Web Services (AWS) Disaster Response team. Collaborating with Help.NGO, AWS is providing high-resolution imaging of affected areas to aid rescue operations and assist the government in assessing additional needs on a large scale.
Cleber Morais, director general of AWS for Latin America, stated, “AWS has been working from the outset with the state government and public institutions of Rio Grande do Sul to support with the migration of critical systems and support for the contingency plan with data protection, migration and geoprocessing, and image analysis solutions. We will also offer our full support to the government in its disaster recovery plans.”
Operations at Amazon’s Fulfillment Center in Nova Santa Rita have been suspended due to challenging road conditions, prioritizing the safety of its workers. Ricardo Pagani, director of Amazon Operations in Brazil, affirmed, “The health and safety of our teams in Brazil are our priority, as is the support of the communities where we operate, which is why we are closely monitoring the evolution of the rains. We will resume operations only when we can help ensure everyone’s safety.”
Amazon remains committed to working with local authorities and organizations to identify additional needs and provide swift support to affected communities.
