A 58-year-old homeless man was found dead on the morning of last Sunday (14) in the Jardins region, an upscale area of São Paulo. The victim, identified as Odair Mesquita dos Santos, was under a walkway.
Representatives of movements in defense of the street population attribute Odair’s death to the cold that hit the city of São Paulo overnight.
In a statement, the Municipal Secretariat for Assistance and Social Development mourned Odair’s death. According to the folder, the teams of the Specialized Service for Social Approach carried out 13 social assistance to the victim in 2023 alone, offering referrals to the services of the social assistance network of the city hall, however, there was no acceptance of reception.
The secretariat also states that, from 20:00 on Saturday (13) until 07:00 on Sunday, 641 referrals were made to the reception services of the social assistance network. The folder also says that it distributed 3,618 blankets and 18,848 food items, such as soup, bread, hot chocolate, tea and water.
Also questioned about the death of the homeless person, the State Public Security Secretariat (SSP-SP) did not comment.
The victim was found by social workers, who called the Samu service and the Military Police. The body was taken to the Legal Medical Institute (IML).
The report indicating the cause of death has not been released. But, if the death due to the cold is confirmed, Odair would be the first person to die in São Paulo, this year, due to the low temperatures.
temperatures
According to the Emergency Management Center (CGE) of São Paulo, the capital of São Paulo registered during the early hours of the 14th an average minimum temperature of 11.6ºC. In the region of Perus, north zone, the thermometers marked 9.1ºC, according to the management center; and on the border of Parelheiros with Capela do Socorro, in the south zone, the local meteorological station recorded 6.4°C.
An image of Odair released on social networks by profiles that defend the rights of homeless people shows the man covered with some blankets and a hat over his head. From the photos, it is possible to see that the victim’s body was quite fragile.
According to Sheikh Rodrigo Jalloul, who works in defense of the street population along with Father Julio Lancellotti, Odair’s poor health status had already been informed to the municipality’s assistance network.
In the first quarter of this year, 72,100 requests were registered on Dial 156 of the São Paulo City Hall, with a view to assisting homeless people. Most calls were made to the social assistance service for this public.
Source: CNN Brasil
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