Brazilian authorities claim they have almost quenched the illegal mining operations in the Yanomami reservation of the Amazon rainforest that have caused a humanitarian crisis of disease and malnutrition in the region.
Nilton Tubino, who was in charge of the operation, told Reuters that police and military forces, environmental agents and health workers coordinated action to destroy mining camps and gold prospects in the affected area. This was done to protect the indigenous tribe Yanomami who had their way of life, crops and hunting suffer because of illegal mining activities.
"We are seeing many of them bathing in the rivers and out hunting again, and clearings being planted for food," he said.
According to Tubino, the authorities conducted hundreds of operations since March and dismantled 42 clandestine airstrips used by the miners, set fire to 18 aircraft, seized 92 000 liters of diesel, sunk 45 dredging barges, destroyed 700 pumps, and dismantled 90 Starlink connectivity dishes.
The team has since set up a radar to monitor clandestine planes in the reservation. With backing from the armed forces, the government action succeeded in expelling 80% of the miners.
Mercury contamination is a usual consequence of illegal gold mining operations. Pollution of rivers makes them uninhabitable by fish which leads to malnutrition of local tribes, affecting their ability to obtain food. Active gold digging also exacerbated problems with malaria brought by the miners, which was addressed by the authorities by opening medical outposts for locals.
Theodor Lisovoy, Managing Editor, Rough&Polished
