UAE launches Brazil humanitarian aid initiative

The UAE has launched a humanitarian initiative to help people in Brazil who have been affected by the recent flooding.

Relief packages of food and supplies have been collected and sent, along with medical supplies, electricity generators and solar lighting supplies to Brazil. 

300 volunteers have helped send over 200 tonnes of supplies to the country, from the UAE, in the past few days. 

It's reported Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul may suffer severe flooding for weeks to come having seen more than 25 inches of rain so far in May.

250,000 addresses are still without power and more than 136,000 people have lost access to water.

The aid effort is being coordinated in a collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, Expo City Dubai, and includes the participation of the Day for Dubai volunteer programme, and members of the Brazilian community in the UAE.