Brazil police conduct investigation of Indigenous 'genocide'
After the government declared a medical emergency, Brazil airlifted 16 malnourished Yanomami tribal members to receive immediate medical treatment.
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Desperately malnourished Yanomami children, Surucucus region. (URIHI – Associação Yanomami)
Brazilian federal police are conducting an investigation into a "genocide" against the Yanomami people after it emerged that nearly a hundred children from the Indigenous group lost their lives, the Justice Ministry announced on Tuesday.
The announcement came at the heels of a governmental report that revealed Saturday that 99 Yanomami children living on Brazil's largest Indigenous reservation -- all under the age of five -- died last year from malnutrition, pneumonia, in addition to malaria.
Simultaneously, Brazilian Justice Minister Flavio Dino announced that he would order a federal police investigation into "strong indications" that the Yanomami had suffered crimes including genocide.
The investigation will look into the activities – and failures to act – of authorities and public health professionals on Yanomami property, as well as potential environmental crimes.
During a recent visit, authorities discovered many more cases of youngsters suffering from severe malnutrition, malaria, respiratory infections, and other health issues, as per the Ministry.
On his account, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused on Sunday his former President Jair Bolsonaro’s far-right administration of committing genocide against the Yanomami people of the Amazon.
The Brazilian President blamed his far-right predecessor for abandoning Indigenous communities and encouraging thousands of miners to flood the Yanomami enclave during his 2019-2022 government.
Last month, the Yanomami leader Junior Hekurari told The Guardian that Bolsonaro's government was that "of blood".
Brazil airlifts starving Yanomami tribal
After the government declared a medical emergency, Brazil evacuated 16 malnourished Yanomami tribal members to obtain immediate treatment.
This comes shortly after hundreds of Yanomami children died from malnutrition.
The deaths have resulted from water pollution caused by mining and logging in the thickly forested area, which is riddled with food shortages.
