Fires in northern Amazon state endanger Brazil's Yanomami people

 Roraima, Brazil's northernmost state, is experiencing a surge in wildfires, posing a threat to the Yanomami Indigenous people and reinforcing concerns about the Amazon rainforest.

Fires in northern Amazon state endanger Brazil's Yanomami people

The National Institute for Space Research (INPE) reported 2,606 fires in Roraima in just two months this year, a significant increase from the 2,659 reported in 2023.

In February, Roraima recorded an all-time record of 2,002 outbreaks, accounting for 29.5% of all Brazilian fires since the start of the year, according to INPE data.

At least 251 fires have occurred on Yanomami land, escalating the humanitarian crisis faced by the Indigenous community due to illegal miners' activities on their land.

Indigenous leader Tuxaua Cesar da Silva reported a significant change in air humidity since last year, causing low temperatures, especially in children, and causing illness problems in families, particularly in the Tabalascada community.

Brazil's federal government convened in Boa Vista to coordinate a response.

Environment Minster Marina Silva blamed the fires on a combination of El Nino, arson, and climate change, causing weakening rainfall in the region.

Leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has reduced Amazon deforestation, halving it from the previous year to its lowest level since 2018, a significant improvement from the rampant deforestation during former President Jair Bolsonaro's tenure.

Greenpeace Brazil spokesperson Romulo Batista emphasized that the Roraima fires serve as a stark reminder of the delicate state of the Amazon.

The speaker argued that state and federal officials should have been more prepared for the blazes, which were anticipated following a severe drought last year.

The climate's dry and hot conditions, coupled with increased wind, contribute to fires and make it challenging to extinguish them, according to the speaker.