🔥 The Amazon is burning, and it's hitting close to home for the Yanomami people.
Brazil's northernmost state of Roraima is seeing an alarming spike in wildfires, bringing new challenges to the Yanomami Indigenous community already grappling with a humanitarian crisis. In just the first two months of this year, Roraima witnessed 2,606 fires—almost matching the total number for all of last year!
February was especially harsh with a record-breaking 2,002 outbreaks. That's wild! 🌪️ This tiny state alone accounts for nearly 30% of all fires in Brazil since January.
😭 The situation is dire for the Yanomami lands, where at least 251 blazes have been recorded. Tuxaua Cesar da Silva, a leader from the Tabalascada community, shared his concerns: \"Since last year, we've felt a big change. The air is so dry, causing illnesses in our families, especially among the kids. The heat is just unreal.\"
The Brazilian government isn't standing idle. They held meetings in Boa Vista on Thursday to figure out a game plan. Environment Minister Marina Silva pointed fingers at a \"terrible combination\" of factors: El Niño messing with the rain 🌧️, arsonists, and of course, climate change.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been working hard to protect the Amazon. Under his watch, deforestation dropped by half in 2023, reaching its lowest since 2018. 🌿 But the fires in Roraima are a stark reminder that the Amazon still needs our help.
Romulo Batista from Greenpeace Brazil said that everyone saw this coming after last year's tough drought. \"When it's this dry, hot, and windy, fires spread fast and are super hard to control,\" he explained. \"We should've been better prepared.\"
✨ It's time to pay attention, amigos! The Amazon isn't just a rainforest; it's the planet's lungs. Let's spread the word and make a difference! 🌎❤️
Reference(s):
Fires in northern Amazon state threaten Brazil's Yanomami people
cgtn.com
