Government House set up in Roraima to deal with Yanomami crisis

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signed a decree establishing the Government House in the state of Roraima, a federal body that will coordinate actions to address the humanitarian crisis in the Yanomami indigenous land. The house will be inaugurated today (Feb. 29) in Boa Vista, the state capital.

Last month, an announcement was made regarding the establishment of this permanent structure. During the declaration, the president advocated for leveraging the full force of the public machinery to combat illegal mining.

The humanitarian crisis in the Yanomami indigenous land was exposed in January 2023. Shortly after assuming office, during his first month in power, Lula visited Roraima and witnessed firsthand the health conditions of the indigenous population, who were suffering from malnutrition and other diseases. This indigenous territory, the largest in the country, is plagued by the invasion and violence of gold miners, as well as contamination of the land and water due to the mercury used in their activities.

Despite long-standing denunciations by indigenous organizations and entities such as the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) regarding the lack of assistance to these communities, it is only under the current government that measures have begun to be implemented to aid the Yanomami and remove offenders from the region. However, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office cautioned that the efforts made by federal agencies so far have proven ineffective. This warning accompanied a lawsuit filed with the Federal Court of Roraima, which mandated the creation of a new action timetable against illegal mining in the Yanomami indigenous land.

The budget for all federal government actions and the ongoing care for the region's population will total BRL 1.2 billion by 2024. Planned initiatives include the construction of Boa Vista's first indigenous hospital, offering specialized medium and high-complexity care services, along with the construction and refurbishment of an additional 22 basic health units.

Scheduled activities include renovating the Indigenous Health Support House (Casai) in Boa Vista and establishing a reference center to fight malnutrition in the Surucucu indigenous land. Earlier this month, Roraima Governor Antonio Denarium also announced the establishment of a state shelter for Yanomami indigenous people.

Responsibilities

One of the agency's key roles is to coordinate and oversee the execution of the Plan for Disintrusion and Coping with the Humanitarian Crisis in the Yanomami indigenous territory. The Government House will also facilitate dialogue among federal, state, and municipal authorities to implement emergency and long-term public policies, as well as oversee their implementation and manage related crises.