Faced with the health crisis in the Yanomami Indigenous Land, Ibama (Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) has joined the efforts of other bodies to solve the case. This Thursday (2nd), the institution created a situation room to fight gold mining in Roraima, where the territory is located.

The measure was published in the Official Gazette (DOU). By act, the room will be headquartered in the superintendence of the state capital, Boa Vista, to coordinate, plan and monitor actions aimed at dismantling the illegal practice.

The norm, signed by the interim president of Ibama, Jair Schmitt, appointed by the Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, establishes that the situation room will operate for 180 days. At the end of this period, the coordinator, who has yet to be defined, will produce a report on the work.

On Monday (30), the President of the Republic Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) signed a decree with a package of measures to combat gold mining in the Yanomami land region and the humanitarian crisis that affects the indigenous people.

Among the actions foreseen in the matter, there is the authorization for the Air Force Command to create an Air Defense Identification Zone (ZIDA) over the territory. In this way, the Air Force can adopt measures against any air traffic that may involve an illegal act.

As a result, this Wednesday (1st) Operation Yanomami Shield was launched by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The military will install a radar to expand the defensive capacity and intensify the power of detection and control of the place. The Ministry of Defense will provide intelligence data and logistical transport to teams participating in the action, such as the Federal Police (PF) and Ibama.

In January, authorities found people suffering from severe malnutrition, acute respiratory infection (ARI) and malaria in Yanomami land. In the past 4 years, there have been at least 570 preventable deaths of indigenous children from malnutrition in the area. The PF has already launched an inquiry to investigate crimes of genocide, failure to provide assistance, and environmental crimes in the territory.