Drought: Government of MG declares emergency situation in cities in the North of MG

The Government of Minas Gerais declared an emergency situation in more than one municipality due to the impacts caused by the drought. More than 80 of the 105 cities are located in the North of Minas Gerais. The measure was published in Decree No. 1,039, in the Official Gazette this Friday (23), and is valid for 180 days.

According to the state government, the decision was taken due to the decrease or depletion of water reserves that supply the affected municipalities. The decree highlights that several cities are already facing problems in supplying water to the population.

The document also considers the need for joint action by members of the National Civil Protection and Defense System to minimize the effects of the disaster.

According to the text, the interruption of drought response actions, through the Transport and Distribution of Drinking Water (TDAP) operation, could cause losses to the affected municipalities.

With the decree, the mobilization of civil defense bodies is authorized to provide additional support to the affected cities, under the coordination of the Governor's Military Office and the Minas Gerais State Civil Defense Coordination.

Among the planned actions are the provision of humanitarian aid kits, water reservoirs and the provision of transport and distribution services for drinking water. Service must follow technical criteria defined by Civil Defense.

According to the decree, the emergency situation is valid only for areas proven to be affected by drought and registered by municipalities in the Integrated Disaster Information System (S2ID).

Municipalities with a declared emergency situation: Águas Vermelhas, Araçuaí, Berilo, Bonfinópolis de Minas, Botumirim, Brasilândia de Minas, Buenópolis, Buritis, Buritizeiro, Cabeceira Grande, Campo Azul, Capitão Enéas, Carbonita, Chapada do Norte, Catuti, Claro dos Poções, Comercinho, Cônego Marinho, Coração de Jesus, Coronel Murta, Couto Magalhães de Minas, Cristália, Curvelo, Divisa Alegre, Engenheiro Navarro, Felício dos Santos, Formoso, Francisco Badaró, Francisco Dumont, Gameleiras, Glaucilândia, Guaraciama, Ibiracatu, Icaraí de Minas, Itacambira, Itacarambi, Janaúba, Januária, Japonvar, Jequitaí, Jequitinhonha, Joaquim Felício, José Gonçalves de Minas, Josenópolis, Juvenília, Lagoa dos Patos, Lassance, Leme do Prado, Lontra, Matias Cardoso, Mato Verde, Medina, Mirabela, Miravânia, Montes Claros, Ninheira, Padre Carvalho, Padre Paraíso, Pirapora, Patis, Pedra Azul, Pintópolis, Ponto Chique, Ponto dos Volantes, Riachinho, Rio Pardo de Minas, Santa Cruz de Salinas, Santa Fé de Minas, São Francisco, São Gonçalo do Rio Preto, São João da Lagoa, São João do Pacuí, Senador Modestino Gonçalves, Serranópolis de Minas, Taiobeiras, Três Marias, Turmalina, Ubaí, Uruana de Minas, Vargem Grande do Rio Pardo, Várzea da Palma, Varzelândia, Verdelândia.