Rio de Janeiro is the global epicentre for the coronavirus, with devastating increases in new cases and deaths every day.  Testing is sporadic at best, so 'official' numbers don't even come close to reflecting the reality.  No end is in sight currently, and despite rising numbers, the local government is reopening the city.  

It has been a confusing and frightening time for Brazilians.  While they are told locally that they must wear a mask, and stay at home, the President keeps insisting that it is just a flu.

Many families have been unable to work for months, since the pandemic first hit Rio (conveniently, the first case was announced the day Carnaval ended, and not before hundreds and thousands of people danced in tightly packed blocos in the streets for days). 

The Brazilian government announced a social welfare payment for casual workers, of R$600 per month (around EUR103), but in reality, this has not reached many of the families that need it, often due to clerical errors (a common headache in bureaucratic Brazil).  

With this fund-raising campaign, we hope to buy food parcels to help families with no income.  Since May, we have managed to support dozens of families living in the Morro de Coroa favela, in Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro.  As well as living in cramped conditions, with limited basic sanitation, this community has been scourged for the past few years as two rival gangs engage in bloody battles for the territory.  Many Saturday morning, residents wake up to gunshots when local police come in, without warrants, and raid their homes (often pocketing electronics, etc, according to residents).  

Social isolation is exceptionally difficult in any favela, where several members of one family often sleep in the same room.  Suspected Covid patients are sent home from local health centres, if their case is not severe enough to be tested, thus increasing the spread.  

In all, it is a massively difficult time for families in Coroa, and all across Rio and Brazil.  As well as buying food, we have also paid for barrels of gas for families, household cleaning products, nappies and baby formula for families with small children, and we have even managed to buy a bed, warm bed linen and cost clothes for a few families in abject poverty.  Winter is coming in Rio, and we became aware of a family that was sleeping on a cold floor.  

Any amount will help in this campaign.  There are no administration fees from our behalf.  100% of funds raised are used to buy food parcels and other necessities.  
The Brazilian Real is extremely weak right now, so any donation in another currency will go a long way.  

This fund is run by Sarah O'Sullivan, Irish journalist based in Rio since 2008, and Priscila Pena de Araujo, resident of Morro de Coroa.  

Thanks for your help!!