Over 290 mining camps dismantled on Yanomami lands so far

The actions to address the humanitarian crisis facing the Yanomami indigenous people have so far resulted in the dismantling of more than 290 campsites belonging to miners in the territory; the removal of 70 ferries, four aircraft, and 11 boats; the destruction of 145 engines; and the blocking of BRL 68 million in mining operations.

The figures were unveiled Tuesday (Apr. 11) by Marivaldo Pereira, secretary for Access to Justice of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, during a Senate hearing before the committee monitoring the situation of the Yanomami in Roraima state. The session aimed to take stock of the measures taken by the government and to find further solutions to the crisis.

“It is important to note that the efforts of the Federal Police were not restricted to the indigenous lands. They were very much concerned with attacking the mining chain,” he stated.

One of the next steps, the secretary added, is tightening the control over the extraction chain and ascertain whether the gold comes from a legal mining area and whether permits are valid.

Also in attendance were officials from the Ministries of Defense and Human Rights. Some of the proposals they presented include income generation programs to substitute mining activities.

Another initiative mentioned was the allocation of BRL 640 million from federal funds to indigenous communities—the biggest slice of it (BRL 513.3 million) directed at the Yanomami.