JAKARTA - The leaders of the Yanomami tribe, a group that has isolated itself in Brazil, have complained about the military's attitude toward helping them. It is nothing. The military mission to protect them from COVID-19 is considered to be carrying a greater risk of infection to the Yanomami people. The military reportedly brought in journalists, which meant that members of the tribe would come into contact with outsiders who were not known to be in good health or not.
Federal prosecutors said they would investigate the visit as it ignored the Yanomami community's desire to remain isolated from the outside, according to Reuters on Friday. The military mission was also deemed to have violated the rules of physical distancing and was also controversial because it distributed chloroquine to the population.
The visits took place on Tuesday, June 30 and Wednesday, July 1. Soldiers bring medical supplies by helicopter to posts on the border with Venezuela. They then gathered families from the Yanomami tribe to test for COVID-19. This activity was covered by journalists.
"We don't want it to be used as government propaganda. We don't want outsiders to come here to take photos of our children. The visit took us by surprise," said Parana Yanomami.
The Yanomami are the last large tribe to live in isolation and live in an area the size of Indiana, United States (US). The area they live in has been raided for decades by illegal gold miners who have brought fatal diseases to their people.
Roberto Yanomami, head of the community in Surucucu, said the government arranged the trip without consulting tribal leaders.
“We are worried that foreigners will come here and leave COVID-19. Yanomami people are called into the garrison without explanation, ”he said in a video message, his face painted black with dye from the fruit of the genipapo tree.
Regarding the military mission, Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo said that the pandemic was under control among the Yanomami because medics did not detect any cases. However, the comments were rejected by the Yanomami Health Council (CONDISI) which said there were more than 160 confirmed cases and five of them had died. The Yanomami tribe has about 27 thousand members.
The council asked the public prosecutor to investigate the visit and delivery of chloroquine, a controversial anti-malarial drug used in treating COVID-19 patients. The prosecutor also said that the military group's stance did not protect Yanomami from the risk of contracting COVID-19.
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