In a recent report, the Hutukara Yanomami Association assessed Brazil’s federal government initiatives aimed at improving living conditions and curbing illegal mining in Yanomami Indigenous Land. The Association called the efforts “insufficient” and painted a bleak picture of the region’s situation. The report, released on Friday for the year 2023, noted a decrease in illegal miners and a reduction in the rate of increase in degraded area, but insisted these efforts were inadequate in neutralizing the activity entirely.
Despite the removal of up to 80% of illegal miners in the first half of the year, the report noted a major resurgence of miners in the second half. It suggested actions such as resuming mining termination operations and creating a Territorial Protection Plan to enhance the living conditions of the indigenous people in the region.
The review also highlighted the necessity for a dedicated task force to handle the alarming prevalence of malaria, which recorded over 25 thousand cases the previous year excluding November and December due to data limitations. With miners influx, there’s a noticeable spike in other diseases, including tuberculosis. The report indicated that in 2023, out of 308 Yanomami deaths, 129 were caused by infectious and respiratory diseases, and seven occurred due to gunfire during violent clashes with miners.
The Hutukara Yanomami Association’s report received technical support from the Instituto Socioambiental (ISA) and Greenpeace Brasil. It was also endorsed by Wanassedume Ye’kwana Association – Seduume, and the Urihi Yanomami Association.
Located on the border of Venezuela, Yanomami Land is home to more than 20,000 indigenous people and is Brazil’s largest indigenous territory. Since the 1980s, this tribal community has grappled with a surge in illegal mining. The situation worsened when former president Jair Bolsonaro initiated legislation that opened up “indigenous protected areas to mining”, which Brazil’s lower house approved.
This decision led to a considerable influx of miners, marking a shocking 1963% increase in miner numbers between 2019 and 2021 compared to the prior decade, as per the Hutukara Yanomami Association’s report. The Brazilian government launched a crackdown on illegal mines in January 2023, followed by the Ministry of Health declaring a Public Health Emergency of National Importance (ESPIN) for the Yanomami and subsequently evacuating a number of ailing residents from the region.
Additionally, an investigation was opened in the same month into allegations of genocide inflicted against the Yanomami people. These actions reflect the severity of the issues facing the Yanomami people, as highlighted in the report.
This article is based on a report from the JURIST – News.