Children of Brazil’s indigenous Yanomami tribe dying from illegal mining

By Halil Ibrahim Medet

ISTANBUL (AA) - Environmental devastation caused by illegal gold mining in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest is causing children of the indigenous Yanomami tribe to die from malaria and malnutrition.

Speaking to Anadolu, Junior Hekurari Yanomami, the leader of the Yanomami tribe, and Gabriel Chaim, a documentary filmmaker and photographer specializing in illegal mining in the Amazon rainforest, discussed the effects of underground mining on children in Yanomami territories.

Hekurari Yanomami said the significant increase in illegal mining in Yanomami territories since late 2018 has been "a great invasion" with severe consequences for the indigenous communities.

He said that during this period, "the Yanomami indigenous land suffered a great invasion (by those) in search of gold. Yanomami indigenous lands were razed up to the source of the Amajari River and up to the Uraricoera River. Those rivers were destroyed by gold seekers in the Homoxi, Xitei, Tirei, Parima and Uraricoera communities."

He also referred to the miners as "invaders" and highlighted the adverse effects on the community, particularly in terms of malnutrition and the spread of malaria.

Hekurari Yanomami said many illegal miners entered the communities and extracted tons of gold, which they took with them. In turn, they left many problems for the Yanomami people, such as water pollution, the destruction of land, and an environmental impact.

"Those who paid the highest price, who were the most affected, were the children. Many died. Officially, we have 570 records of dead children and about 300 that have not yet been declared in the system from 2019 to today," he said.

Highlighting the vulnerability of the Yanomami tribe due to the lack of protection against illegal mining activities during the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro, he stressed that the invaders devastated Yanomami lands and put the community at risk, particularly due to the pollution of water sources.

"It was hard for children and adults. The women have nowhere to fish. The animals also moved away from the communities due to these problems, making it very difficult to hunt a porcao, wild pig, a deer or a paca, rodent to feed their community. We Yanomami feed ourselves through nature. Currently, to be able to hunt a porcao, we need to walk between seven and 10 days. That is why I say that these invasions had such an impact on the lives of the Yanomami,” he said.

Despite the known issues, the then-government failed to provide healthcare services and minimum health facilities to indigenous communities affected by contaminated water, resulting in the deaths of many children, he said, noting that "if there had been any Yanomami protection program, those children would still be alive."

He went on to say that after the new government took office, efforts were made to remove illegal miners from the Yanomami region, adding that the current government team "is working, but the solution to the Yanomami problem is still a long way off."

- Illegal miners invading region since 1960s

Additionally, journalist Chaim highlighted that illegal miners have been invading the region since the 1960s, and little has been done to prevent their activities since then. As a result, the area has witnessed the destruction of forests and the contamination of rivers.

During the presidency of Bolsonaro, there was a concerning increase in the number of "invaders" of indigenous lands, he said, emphasizing that the illegal mining activities conducted on the vast and hard-to-reach Yanomami lands have not been monitored in the past five years.

The location of the mining areas along the Brazil-Venezuela border further complicates control and regulation.

When the new government took office, operations were initiated to remove the 25,000 illegal miners from the region, he said.

However, due to the extensive area and logistical challenges, substantial funding and helicopters are needed. Additionally, many miners arrive in the region from Venezuela using small aircraft. This unregulated area is often referred to as "empty land" without proper regulations in place, he said.

On the global effects of the destruction caused by illegal mining, Chaim highlighted the contamination of rivers with chemicals used in illegal mining and the extensive demolition of forested areas.

He observed numerous areas of destruction during his flights to document the mining activities.

They first find a location near the river for mining activities and then proceed to cut down trees in the area. The process of cutting down trees devastates the forest and significantly alters the quality of the environment and air. Additionally, mercury is commonly used in gold mining. Mercury has an impact on everything in the water and the surrounding environment, including fish, animals and the indigenous population, he said.

Chaim warned that if the Brazilian government does not halt illegal mining activities, the destruction in the Amazon rainforest will reach catastrophic proportions.

If the uncontrolled devastation continues, the Amazon may not exist in 200 or 500 years, he said, acknowledging the initial steps taken by the government, with approximately 23,000 miners being deported from the Yanomami indigenous region.

He emphasized, however, the need for new laws and regulations to cease aerial operations in the region and the challenging task of maintaining 24/7 surveillance over the entire area.