Drought

Drought in Brazil Intensifies

Brazil's northeast interior has been experiencing a severe drought in what should be the rainy season.

Private trucks are selling potable water. Some people travel 100km in search of drinkable water, though many cannot afford to pay the price.

"What falls from the sky does not fill a glass of water," Raimundo, a farmer, said. Natural vegetation, which would normally provide food for livestock, has dried up and many ranchers cannot afford to buy imported feed for their herds. Many farmers are on the brink of collapse, while others have given up on ranching and have moved to other parts of the country in search of work.

$1bn in aid to all of those affected by the drought has been announced by the Government, but many ranchers are having trouble feeding themselves and their cattle are dying in record numbers.

This river is normal full from bank to bank at this time of year: