The Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR) expresses concern about the advance of Covid-19 in the Yanomami Indigenous Land, as reported in the URGENCY letter from Condisi/Yanomami for the "REQUEST FOR PROVENANCES", signed by President Júnior Hekurari. Cases of Covid-19 are spreading rapidly in communities in the region that still face the invasion of hundreds of miners in their territories.
In January 2021, nine deaths of children were recorded in the Waphuta and Kataroa indigenous communities with suspicion of the new coronavirus, a clear demonstration of the total abandonment of public power. The letter also reports that, "four children died in the Waphuta community, and the cause would have been COVID-19, and there were at least 25 children with the same symptoms and in serious condition. Continuing with the complaints, five children died in the Kataroa community, also suspected of the new coronavirus".
The president, Júnior Hekurari, officiated SESAI on January 26, but until today, February 1, no team has been to the communities. In view of this serious situation, the CIR urgently requires that measures be taken by the public authorities to ensure adequate health care for Yanomami relatives and the immediate removal of illegal miners. Their presence puts the lives of the Yanomami people at risk and it is not new that the leaders demand the removal of these invaders.
We also reinforce that we, indigenous peoples, are against mining and against the miners who are killing our brothers and destroying our nature.
Indigenous Council of Roraima, February 1, 2021.
OFÃ_CIO-NO-66-CABINET-SESAI-2 (opens in new window)