Yanomami people report health and mining crises in Amazonas

During a public hearing in São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas, Yanomami indigenous representatives reported critical difficulties regarding healthcare access, lack of security, and the persistence of illegal mining. The meeting, organized by a Senate subcommittee, also addressed reports of guerrillas entering the border region.

In response to the ongoing crisis, the National Indigenous Peoples Foundation (Funai) announced the creation of a forum involving government and indigenous representatives to seek joint solutions. Senator Damares Alves, president of the subcommittee, proposed a ten-year investment plan for the territory to ensure long-term humanitarian and structural support, noting that emergency measures have been in place for nearly four years.

The Yanomami indigenous land is the largest in Brazil, covering approximately 9.66 million hectares across eight municipalities in the states of Amazonas and Roraima, encompassing 438 villages.