The deadline for joining the indemnity payment flow for all locations runs until July 31
Claims through the Simplified Indemnity System continue to advance. In Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo, payments reached the amount of approximately R$1.6 billion to 17,000 people at the end of June. The amount paid reached R$ 926 million for 9,600 people affected in the Espirito Santo municipalities of São Mateus, Linhares, Aracruz, Conceição da Barra, Baixo Guandu, Colatina and Marilandia. In Minas Gerais, indemnities exceeded R$ 662 million for 7,400 people affected from 15 locations in the State. In all, 21 locations in Minas Gerais are included in the indemnity payment flow.
Between June 10th and 30th, R$ 400 million were paid through the Simplified Indemnity System. The value went from R$1.2 billion to R$1.6 billion, representing a growth of almost 26%. The number of people affected who received indemnities after the approval from the Federal Court went from 13,500 to 17,000.
The indemnity payment flow was implemented by the Renova Foundation in August 2020 by decision of the 12th Federal Court and the first payment was made in September. The system allows categories with difficulty in proving damage caused by the collapse of the Fundão (MG) dam, such as washerwomen, artisans, sand harvesters, carters, informal fishers, among others, to be compensated.
The settlements are one-off and definitive payments, as ruled by the Court, and they vary from R$ 17,000 to R$ 567,000, according to the damage category. Click here to check the amounts.
Locations with access
In all, 28 locations have access to the system and for all of them the deadline for subscription expires on July 31st. In addition to the seven locations in Espírito Santo, 21 municipalities in Minas Gerais have access to the Indemnity System: the municipalities of Ponte Nova, Tumiritinga, Santa Cruz do Escalvado, Naque, Itueta, Galileia, São José do Goiabal, Pingo d’Água, Aimorés, Rio Doce, Bugre, Caratinga, Sem Peixe, Ipaba, Periquito, Resplendor – including the riverside community of Vila Crenaque and except the Indigenous People -, and the districts of Senhora da Penha (Fernandes Tourinho), Ipaba do Paraíso (Santana do Paraíso), Cachoeira Escura (Belo Oriente), Baguari (Governador Valadares) and Reves do Belém (Bom Jesus do Galho).
The Renova Foundation disbursed R$4.12 billion in indemnity payments and Emergency Financial Aid (AFE), totaling 324,000 people served by the end of May.
Access
Joining the Simplified Indemnity System is optional and must be done through the Attorney’s Portal platform on the Renova Foundation website (www.reparacaobaciariodoce.com) by an attorney or public defender, in compliance with the judicial decision. In addition, it must be confirmed that the claimant was at least 16 years of age at the time of the dam collapse and that they registered or requested registration in the Renova Foundation database by April 30, 2020.
In case representatives of the affected parties are facing any issues when using the platform, they can call 0800 031 2303 for assistance. The Renova Foundation is in permanent contact with the claimants’ attorneys via SMS, email, or WhatsApp.