The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has mobilized an emergency response team to Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, Paraná, in southern Brazil, following the devastating EF3 tornado that struck the municipality on 7 November 2025. The storm, with winds reaching up to 250 km/h, destroyed nearly 90 per cent of the urban area, causing massive destruction to homes, schools, and essential infrastructure such as power and water systems. Seven people lost their lives, over 800 were injured, and hundreds of families were left homeless, prompting the Government of Paraná to declare a state of emergency.
IOM Chief of Mission Paolo Caputo commended the resilience of the affected community, emphasizing that protecting lives, restoring dignity, and supporting recovery remain at the heart of IOM’s mission. The Organization deployed 11 specialists in shelter management, health, protection, information management, and recovery to assist state and municipal authorities. Working closely with the National Force of the Unified Social Assistance System (ForSUAS) under Brazil’s Ministry of Social Development, IOM is delivering immediate relief, coordinating temporary shelters, and ensuring affected families have access to social protection and support programmes.
This response underscores IOM’s expanding role in addressing the human impacts of climate-related disasters, as extreme weather events become more frequent and severe. With global attention on climate action ahead of COP30 in Belém, IOM continues to advocate for recovery efforts that build both resilience and inclusion.
Drawing on lessons from its 2024 emergency response to historic floods in Rio Grande do Sul, where IOM provided life-saving aid and managed humanitarian reception centres for displaced families, the Organization is leveraging its experience to assist Paraná’s recovery. By supporting local authorities in creating comprehensive emergency and recovery plans, IOM aims to help communities rebuild stronger, protect human rights, and ensure no one is left behind.
