International
Floods in southern Brazil put the public health system in check
Floods in southern Brazil have pushed the precarious public health system to the limit, with hospitals surrounded by water, patients being transferred to haste and dozens of outpatient clinics affected by this climate catastrophe, which so far leaves 156 dead and 94 missing.
The rains that have hit the state of Rio Grande do Sul since the end of April have submerged a large part of the municipality of Canoas, one of the most affected. Two-thirds of the population was evacuated and one of the city’s hospitals is still surrounded by water.
At the Hospital of Pronto Socorro Diputado Nelson Marchezan the water has almost completely blocked the entrance of visitors. A refrigerator floats around. “He’s lost,” in the words of Mayor Jairo Jorge.
The impact on the regional health structure has been tremendous.
According to initial calculations by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, at least 801 health posts in 123 cities were totally or partially flooded.
Some basic care units are completely destroyed. For this reason, several field hospitals have been set up urgently, some managed by the Armed Forces.
“We have a fairly large volume (of patients),” Cecilia Soster, a nurse responsible for the field hospital built in Porto Alegre, tells EFE.
The Army installed another one in the town of São Leopoldo, where about half of the health posts are closed.
“We are doing an average of 100-120 consultations per day,” says Lieutenant-Conel Frederico Fuhrmeister, the doctor who coordinates the unit.
In addition, in the first days of the disaster there was no drinking water and there were serious problems with the supply of medicines because many roads were closed and the international airport of Porto Alegre, the regional capital, closed, with the forecast that it will only work again from September.
Organ transplants were paralyzed for two weeks and resumed again thanks to the use of helicopters borrowed by other states.
“It is the biggest climate catastrophe experienced in Rio Grande do Sul. Many healthcare services have been affected,” Roberta Vanacôr, head of Epidemiological Surveillance of Rio Grande do Sul, tells EFE.
Faced with this, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday a package of 66.5 million reais (13 million dollars / 12 million euros) to reactivate flooded hospitals, increase health surveillance and expand the number of beds, among other actions.
On the other hand, large floods also lead to the possible appearance of outbreaks of diseases caused by waters contaminated by animals or even pesticides, something that worries the health authorities.
“We have many agricultural areas with reserves of agrotoxics that have been flooded,” warns Carlos Machado, of the Center for Studies and Research of Emergencies and Disasters in Health of the Fiocruz institute.
The possible appearance of cases of hepatitis A, acute diarrhea and leptospirosis is also feared. Vanacôr reveals that they have already received “suspicious samples” of this disease that is transmitted by contact with water contaminated by the urine of infected animals.
Respiratory syndromes are also worrying, not counting the impact on mental health. Regarding influenza, they have been arrested to vaccinate the more than 77,000 people who have had to leave their homes and today live in shelters.
The crowds and low temperatures of this time of year in this region are the perfect breeding ground for respiratory infections.
But it also adds that Brazil is going through the worst dengue epidemic since there are records, with almost five million cases and about 2,800 deaths since the beginning of the year, according to official data.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito, transmitter of the disease, proliferates in places with accumulated water and 90% of the municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul are affected by the floods.
Vanacôr clarifies that the cold shortens the life cycle of the mosquito, but warns that just a sequence of milder temperatures is enough for there to be an increase in dengue cases.
International
20th Festival Salvadoreñísimo brings together thousands of salvadorans in Houston
Parades, baton twirlers, and a mix of Salvadoran and international music set the tone for the 20th edition of the Festival Salvadoreñísimo, held in Houston, Texas, with Tony Villatoro once again leading the organization.
This year, the highly anticipated event moved to a new venue: The Crown Festival Park in Sugar Land, Fort Bend County, within the “space city.” Despite the scorching sun of the open-air setting, spirits remained high, and a brief drizzle later brought relief and renewed energy to the celebration.
More than 5,000 Salvadorans gathered at the park, joining with Guatemalans, Hondurans, and even Mexicans to commemorate 204 years of independence for El Salvador and Central America. The festival was marked by a family-friendly atmosphere, where traditional foods such as pupusas, panes con gallina, pastelitos, and horchata could not be missed.
“Twenty years with this festival, and I am very grateful to the Salvadoran community that always shows up. Thanks to them, the sponsors, and to Diario El Salvador for supporting us since the beginning,” said Tony Villatoro, as more compatriots continued arriving to the celebration.
“I am satisfied. I didn’t expect this level of attendance, especially since we were trying a new outdoor venue with some challenges, but we made it through successfully,” Villatoro added.
The Festival Salvadoreñísimo, now a two-decade-long tradition, once again took place as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time when independence festivities run from mid-September through October.
International
El Salvador unveils 2025-2029 National Reintegration Plan for returned migrants
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched the National Reintegration Plan for Returned Salvadorans 2025-2029, a strategy designed to create greater opportunities, ensure access to quality services, and provide a favorable environment for Salvadorans returning to their home country to rebuild their lives.
The initiative is supported by the United Nations Network on Migration, coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), financed by the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), and backed by the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Migration Unit.
During the presentation, Vice Minister of Diaspora and Human Mobility Cindy Mariella Portal emphasized that migrants often face multiple challenges upon returning to their communities.
“That is why we are implementing actions that generate real and sustainable opportunities for these individuals,” she stated.
International
Authorities capture CJNG financial chief in international airport operation
A man identified as the main financial operator of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) was arrested Thursday at Mexico City’s international airport, authorities reported.
The individual, named by Mexican media as Óscar Antonio Álvarez, was apprehended during an operation involving the army, navy, National Guard, police, and the attorney general’s office, according to a joint statement.
Álvarez is considered the primary financial operator of a criminal group originating in Jalisco, and the capture took place at Benito Juárez Airport as he arrived on a flight from Barcelona, Spain.
Authorities stated that Álvarez faces charges of organized crime and money laundering, specifically for receiving and transferring illicit funds. His work with the CJNG reportedly included purchasing properties and managing businesses in the tequila and livestock sectors.
According to El Universal, Álvarez was directly under the command of Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho”, the cartel’s top leader, for whom the U.S. offers a $15 million reward.
The CJNG, which operates throughout Mexico and in various parts of the world, was designated earlier this year as a “foreign terrorist organization” by the U.S. government.
Álvarez was handed over to the federal public prosecutor to determine his legal situation, the report added.
20th Festival Salvadoreñísimo brings together thousands of salvadorans in Houston
El Salvador unveils 2025-2029 National Reintegration Plan for returned migrants
22-Year-Old Suspect Arrested After 33-Hour Manhunt in Small Western U.S. Town
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
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