Indigenous leaders declared a humanitarian crisis in the wake of shocking attacks against a Yanomami village that have placed the Amazonian community “on the verge of disappearance” because of violence caused by miners.

The attacks demonstrate the illegal gold miners’ mounting brutality and cruelty, which is matched only by the indifference of the federal government as these crimes increase on Indigenous lands.

The Bolsonaro regime openly encourages illegal mining and other criminal industries, pushing the Amazon towards its tipping point. In 2021 alone, illegal mining activity in Yanomami territories increased 46 percent with minimal government response. The main targets of this tragedy are women and children, who face violence and sexual abuse.

Content warning: This blog includes descriptions of rape and violence.