Extreme events punish indigenous populations,

After the historic drought that hit the Amazon last year, states in northern Brazil continue to suffer from extreme weather events in recent weeks.

In Roraima, the Branco River is going through the second biggest drought in history, with a water level of minus 39 centimeters. As a result, boats become stranded on the sand and people cross the river on foot.

Roraima has been experiencing an extreme drought since October that is expected to last until April. Drought dries out rivers and causes forest fires. 14 municipalities in the state are in an emergency situation due to lack of rain.

Acre, which experienced a historic flood in February, has not yet fully recovered from the climate emergency. Extractivists from the Chico Mendes reserve still live a routine of lack of food and loss of production.

Acre organizations are running a donation campaign to help 700 affected families in Xapuri (AC), where the Casa de Chico Mendes is located, a listed heritage site that is deteriorating due to the rise and fall of water. To donate, the Chico Mendes Committee provided the pix key 42.027.188/0001-01 (CNPJ).

Two weeks after declaring an emergency due to drought in 8 municipalities in the state, Rondônia saw the city of Cacoal, with 85 thousand inhabitants, go underwater due to heavy rains on Monday (25).

The municipality’s Civil Defense estimated that 150 families are displaced and homeless. The rivers began to decrease in the region, and the situation returned to normal on Tuesday (26), according to the state government.

In the Yanomami Indigenous Land (TI), also in Roraima, which is still facing the invasion of illegal miners, an exceptional drought causes water shortages and compromises the traditional ways of life of indigenous populations.

Forest fires, originating mainly from nearby farms, have devastated part of the Yanomami TI. The lack of rain, dry vegetation and strong winds facilitate the spread of the fire, complicating containment efforts.

Editing: Nicolau Soares