Bitcoin Aid: Brazil Floods Displace Hundreds of Thousands, Crypto Community Steps In

• The National Council of Municipalities (CNM) estimates that the losses from these floods have surpassed $54 million.

• The Bitcoin community has come together to raise funds, providing various donation addresses, including PIX, Bitcoin via Lightning, and SegWit addresses.

The state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, has been grappling with the aftermath of devastating floods, causing significant damage and displacement. According to the RS Civil Defense, the crisis has left over 19,000 people in shelters, nearly 122,000 homeless, and around 850,000 affected individuals. These staggering numbers underscore the magnitude of the tragedy, with heavy rains and the risk of further flooding still looming.

Mapa interativo lançado pelo governo do Estado permite, em tempo real, acompanhar a situação das rodovias federais e estaduais que estão bloqueadas. As informações são abastecidas pelo Comando Rodoviário da BM, PRF, Daer e EGR.

Acesse: https://t.co/3YykpCSkIa pic.twitter.com/1qRGtqUuG8

— Governo do Rio Grande do Sul (@governo_rs) May 5, 2024

Mounting Financial Losses and Urgent Need for Support

The National Council of Municipalities (CNM) estimates that the losses from these floods have surpassed $54 million. Urgent aid is crucial to support the victims and rebuild the affected cities. A joint task force involving the government of Rio Grande do Sul, the federal government, several states, and even Brazilians residing abroad has been formed to collect donations and resources.

Many regions remain without electricity, with the RS Civil Defense reporting 418,200 points without power. Numerous municipalities lack access to roads, airports, bridges, and basic necessities such as water, food, and medicine. Reports of shortages in some areas have already surfaced, highlighting the dire situation.

Nationwide Solidarity and Mobilization

The recent weeks of tension have sparked a wave of solidarity and mobilization across Brazil. Various official bodies, artists, and communities have united to raise donations for the climate refugees. The Association of Banks in the State of Rio Grande do Sul has made accounts available for donations in reais, dollars, and euros.

The PIX (a Brazilian instant payment system) of the government of Rio Grande do Sul, the official channel of the state government, has raised approximately $7.5 million at the time of writing. Another official donation channel, “For those who donate,” provides information on more than 100 social and non-profit organizations accepting contributions.

Bitcoin Community Rallies for Rolante

One of the cities severely affected by the tragedy is Rolante, known as the most Bitcoin-friendly city in Brazil. Residents and volunteers are working tirelessly to rebuild businesses and the local hospital, which lost all its equipment to the flood. The healthcare institution also accepts Bitcoin donations.

Across the state, 110 hospitals were impacted, with 75 partially functioning and 17 lacking service. The Bitcoin community has come together to raise funds, providing various donation addresses, including PIX, Bitcoin via Lightning, and SegWit addresses.

Digital platforms facilitate alternative avenues for donations, enabling individuals to contribute seamlessly to relief efforts. Platforms such as “For those who donate” provide a comprehensive list of social and non-profit organizations, streamlining the process of offering support to those affected by the floods.

Grassroots initiatives spearheaded by individuals like Gerin.ETH is also making significant contributions to relief efforts. Through social media platforms, Gerin.ETH has mobilized support for the city of Santa Maria, leveraging trackable Web3 wallets to ensure transparency and accountability in distributing donations.

Humanitarian aid is moving to a new level, decentralized funding through crypto-donation is considered one of the engines for flood relief actions. Blockchain technology has been extensively used by both individuals and organizations to send their contributions, ensuring all of them are quickly verified and a source of transparency.  Platforms like Bitso have launched emergency campaigns, doubling customer donations and converting cryptocurrency contributions into tangible support for flood-affected communities.