Situation of isolated Yanomami worries anthropologists – 01/24/2023 – Mônica Bergamo

The photographs of malnourished Yanomami that have been circulating since the weekend account for only part of the humanitarian crisis experienced by the indigenous people, says the Associação Brasileira de Antropologia. In a note prepared this Tuesday (24), the organization says that there is a lack of information about the extent of the problem and about the peoples who inhabit the Yanomami and Ye’kuana Indigenous Land in voluntary isolation.

The document, which is signed by the Brazilian Association of Political Science, the Brazilian Society of Sociology and the National Association of Graduate Studies and Research in Social Sciences, asks the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) to adopt, in addition to emergency actions, medium and long-term measures that ensure the territorial stability and health of the Yanomami.

“The removal of invaders, health care and food security are urgent actions”, emphasizes the association formed by anthropologists, which also makes itself available to the federal government to collaborate with the actions undertaken in favor of the indigenous people.

The entity celebrates the creation of a national committee to face the lack of health care for populations living in the territory and the opening of a police inquiry to investigate the case, but says it is necessary for the entire population to show solidarity with the situation.

“All government measures are urgent and indispensable, including the decontamination of rivers and soil, poisoned by mercury from gold miners. But it is also urgent and indispensable that Brazilian society is informed and mobilized for the defense of life and all the rights of indigenous peoples “, it says.

According to the Associação Brasileira de Antropologia, episodes of violence and conflicts with miners have persisted for decades over Yanomami territory, but have intensified “brutally” under the management of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

In addition to mining activity, among the occurrences that would have increased in the last four years would be cases of sexual violations and the dissemination of fake news about the vaccine against Covid-19. The lack of support for the health system among the indigenous population and the dismissal of anthropology professionals who provided basic care would also have contributed.

“The notes produced by the Brazilian Association of Anthropology and other scientific associations [nos últimos anos] they are public documents, many of which were sent to the authorities, who were, therefore, aware of the serious situation of the Yanomami and Ye’kuana peoples,” reads Tuesday’s letter.

A region with 30,000 inhabitants in Roraima, the Yanomami Indigenous Land is experiencing an explosion in cases of malaria, incidence of easily preventable worms, respiratory infections and worsening malnutrition, especially among children and the elderly.

The lack of health care in the territory is aggravated by the permanence of more than 20,000 prospectors invading the demarcated area.

On Friday (20), the Ministry of Health declared a Public Health Emergency of National Importance. Three days later, he sent a team from the National Force of the SUS (Unified Health System) to Boa Vista with 12 professionals, who will operate a field hospital that should be set up next Friday (27).

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IN PARTY

The municipal secretary of Culture of São Paulo, Aline Torres, participated in the Chinese New Year celebration held by the Chinese Consulate in São Paulo, by Ibrachina (Brazil China Sociocultural Institute) and by the Chinese Bridge Club, in the city of São Paulo, last week. The president of Ibrachina, Thomas Law, and the consul general of China in São Paulo, Chen Peijie.

_{with BIANKA VIEIRA (interim)KARINA MATIAS and MANOELLA SMITH}

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