Monday, February 10, 2025

LATAM Transports Modular Houses to Brazil Flood Victims through “Solidarity Plane” Program

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LATAM, via its “Solidarity Plane” program, has transported the first shipment of 100 out of 200 modular houses donated by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to assist with the emergency response to the floods in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

The initial 16-ton shipment departed from Bogotá and landed in São Paulo, from where it will continue by land to the affected area.

This transport of emergency houses, known as Refugee Housing Units, to Brazil is the result of coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Ports and Airports, and UNHCR, which has been a partner of LATAM’s “Solidarity Plane” program since April 2022.

These mobile structures are intended to provide temporary emergency housing for flood victims in Brazil, offering better shelter and greater privacy for affected families.

Since May 4 of this year, LATAM’s Solidarity Plane has transported a total of 142 tons of donations, including basic food baskets, water, disposable diapers, blankets, and other essential items. Additionally, the program has transported 102 volunteers, including doctors, nurses, veterinarians, and firefighters, free of charge to southern Brazil.

These transports have been carried out on both commercial flights to regional airports and special flights to the Canoas Air Base (RS), with donations arriving from countries such as Portugal and the United States.

Emergency Housing Units, with a lifespan of up to five years, are sustainable structures used in various UNHCR operations globally. Each unit features a lightweight steel frame, roof and wall dividers, doors and windows, floor covering, solar power, LED lighting, and an anchoring system.

The project was developed collaboratively by UNHCR, the social enterprise Better Shelter, and the IKEA Foundation. The goal is to create autonomous, sustainable spaces adaptable to different humanitarian emergency contexts, with units deployed in South America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

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