The Hutukara Yanomami Association, an indigenous group in Brazil, released a report for the year 2023 on Friday that assessed initiatives undertaken by the Brazil federal government to improve living conditions and control the practice of illegal mining in Yanomami Indigenous Land. The report underscored the bleak situation of the region and called the initiatives “insufficient.”
The report highlighted that the government’s initiatives led to a reduction in illegal miners and a decline in the rate of increase in degraded area, however, they “were insufficient to neutralize the activity in its entirety.” It report cited Greenpeace Brazil’s data demonstrating a surge in deforestation activity from August after a lull until July. While up to 80% of illegal miners were removed in the first half of the year, the next half witnessed a massive return. The report included suggestions like the resumption of mining termination operations, which witnessed irregular patrolling and weak “blockades” in 2023. It urged for a Territorial Protection Plan to improve the living conditions of the region.
Additionally, the report called for the creation of a task force to address the high incidence of malaria, which saw over 25 thousand cases in the previous year, excluding November and December due to data limitations. The arrival of thousands of miners resulted in a spike in cases of diseases, including malaria and tuberculosis. According to the report, 308 Yanomami died in 2023, out of which 129 deaths were due to infectious and respiratory diseases, and seven died of gunshots during deathly clashes with miners.
The report received technical support from the Instituto Socioambiental (ISA) and Greenpeace Brasil and was endorsed by the Wanassedume Ye’kwana Association (Seduume) and the Urihi Yanomami Association.
Yanomami Land, located on the border of Venezuela, is the largest indigenous territory in Brazil and houses over 20,000 indigenous people. Since the 1980s, the tribal community has struggled with an increase in illegal mining. The situation escalated when former president Jair Bolsonaro introduced legislation opening “indigenous protected areas to mining,” which was passed by Brazil’s lower house. This move triggered a significant influx of miners, causing a staggering 1963% surge in miner numbers between 2019 and 2021 compared to the preceding decade, as reported by the Hutukara Yanomami Association.
President Lula da Silva launched a crackdown on illegal mines in January 2023 with the help of the country’s military, environment agencies, and police forces. Subsequently, the Ministry of Health declared a Public Health Emergency of National Importance (ESPIN) for the Yanomami and evacuated hundreds of unwell residents from the region. An investigation was also opened in January into the alleged genocide perpetrated against the Yanomami people.
