A
PARTILHA
By Marie-Noelle Rondot
Despite severe flooding, people continue to have hope
June 18, 2010 will be remembered by many people in the state of Alagoas
and beyond.
Our city of São José
da Laje, along with more than 20 other municipalities in Alagoas, were
hit hard when a dam broke in the neighbouring state of Pernambuco due
to heavy rains for days and weeks.
Early in the morning of June
18, the level of water from the river that goes through our city had
risen considerably, but being “rainy season” no one found
this to be abnormal.
However, by early afternoon the situation became alarming. It was announced throughout the city that people living within proximity of the river should evacuate their homes.
The river continued to swell at an unbelievable speed and became more
and more agitated. Once it succeeded in breaking the wall that separated
it from the main part of the city, it doubled in width and quickly invaded
three districts. The streets themselves were transformed into roaring
rivers.
Within less than two hours, houses began to fall down everywhere, people
were screaming and calling for help, cars were turned upside down, trees
were uprooted. Televisions, sofas, fridges and all kinds of other things,
including animals, could be seen floating on the water. Entire streets
were destroyed.
It was only the next day when the river had come down to its normal
level that we could see the extent of the damage. That whole area of
the city no longer looked familiar. It was like having stepped into
another world overnight.
There were piles of debris everywhere, huge amounts of mud, rats and
snakes running and crawling around, people searching for where their
houses used to be in the hope of finding a few belongings. Other people
were taking advantage of this unfortunate situation to rob anything
in sight.
It is now the 26th of June, nine days after this tragedy occurred: as
of today we have electricity again but still no water — except
for rain water.
I have visited people in the hospital who suffered from injuries. A
hospital that does not have access to clean water for nine days is a
difficult situation to imagine.
Life without electricity, clean water, a phone, Internet, or a fridge
certainly makes us long for those things we too often take for granted.
It is interesting, however, that one is even inclined to complain about
it because people who have lost everything not only do not complain,
but every now and then are even heard saying things like: “God
will look after us!”
All no doubt have their own ways of interpreting the unexpected so as
to find the strength necessary to carry on with life.
Having this opportunity to spend time with people who have been victims
of this flood, I marvel at their ability to accept that this is just
the way life has to be for now.
I don’t know how and when life will become somewhat “normal”
for them again. How will they cope?
All I am certain of is that in their vulnerable state, these people
are strong, determined, courageous and will no doubt “stand up”
again with the hope in their hearts that someday life will be kinder
to them.
Articles from the Saskatoon Diocesan Brazil Mission Team appear
under the heading A Partilha, the Brazilian word for sharing.
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