Picture cities like Bath, Oxford, Cambridge, Plymouth, and Southampton with nothing but rooftops visible above the floodwaters. Envision dozens of English towns obliterated, and an additional 446 cities and towns plunged into a state of public calamity. Consider the harrowing figures: 2 million people affected, over 100 lives lost, hundreds missing, and 500,000 displaced.

Yet, this dire scenario has scarcely made a ripple in mainstream media coverage. However, this is not a hypothetical situation in England but a grim reality in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil, currently facing unprecedented flooding that is impacting millions. The catastrophe began on May 1st, with rainfall up to four times the monthly average descending in less than 48 hours. 7 of the 10 cities recording the highest rainfall globally during this period are in Rio Grande do Sul, with Caxias do Sul—comparable in size to Bristol—among them. On the 11th of May, significant rainfall was recorded once more, intensifying the existing tragedy. This necessitated the evacuation of entire cities once again and complicated the provision of emergency assistance.

The scale of this ongoing disaster is vast, and sadly, the numbers are likely to rise as many areas remain flooded and inaccessible. Yet, a greater disaster was prevented by the heroic mobilisation of the people of Rio Grande do Sul and Brasil who formed an impromptu civilian army of thousands equipped with jet skis, helicopters, boats, and even inflatable beds—demonstrating that where there's a will, there's a way, a core Brazilian motto. Together with official forces, they have rescued over 80,000 people and 10,000 animals so far.

Such a catastrophic event is unprecedented in this region and is clearly exacerbated by climate change. This situation not only demands immediate global awareness but also serves as a stark indicator of the urgent need for coordinated global action on climate issues. Hence, it must be put under the spotlight internationally.

The people of Brazil and the State of Rio Grande do Sul desperately need more attention and support during this challenging time. Raising awareness about this disaster helps mobilise necessary aid and resources to assist those affected. Once the waters recede and the rescue phase concludes, it will be time to rebuild homes, workplaces, schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, dams, and infrastructure that have been devastated. We must also reestablish critical supply lines and businesses to provide a solid foundation that enables people to start over.

There are plenty of willing hands to do the work, what we need are resources to make it possible.