The Yanomami are one of the most numerous, and best-known, forest-dwelling tribes in South America. Their home is in the Amazon rainforest, among the hills that line the border between Brazil and Venezuela.
After the creation of the 10 million hectare Yanomami park in 1992, independent medical staff were recruited to work alongside traditional Yanomami healers. This health initiative, Urihi – which was supported by Survival – reduced the number of deaths by half.
In 2004, the Brazilian government took it over by decree. Spending was doubled, but disease rocketed. Some communities saw fatal cerebral malaria increase four-fold.
Please write to the Brazilian government expressing your concern about the deterioration of the Yanomami’s health since the government’s National Health Foundation took over responsibility for delivering health care to the Yanomami.
I am extremely concerned about the Yanomami people. Over 1,000 goldminers are working illegally on their land, polluting the environment and introducing fatal diseases to the Indians. The government funded Yanomami health care programme is in chaos and doctors and vital medicines are not reaching the communities. Yanomami are starting to die of diseases.
Many Yanomami oppose Congress’s plans to open up large-scale mining on their land and have not been adequately informed or consulted about the proposals.
I urge you to uphold the Constitution and remove the miners from the Yanomami territory, and resolve the health crisis as a matter of urgency. I also urge you and your government to prohibit any form of mining on their land as the impacts will be disastrous for such an isolated people.
Presidente da República Federativa do Brasil
Gabinete do Presidente
Palácio do Planalto
Praça dos Três Poderes
70150-900
Brasilia DF
Brazil
Fax: +55 61 411 2222 or 2243 or 1222
Begin: 'Your Excellency'
