Brazil’s Ministry of Communications and Telebras make broadband internet available to the Yanomami

Goal is to strengthen connectivity and improve communication between teams that are providing humanitarian support in the region

Published in Apr 05, 2023 07:17 PM Updated in May 20, 2024 09:34 PM

MCom and Telebras are capable of offering internet access in 15 different spots within the Yanomami indigenous territory - Credit: Telebras

Originally published on Jan.26, 2023

Through Brazilian telecommunications company Telebras, Brazil’s Ministry of Communications (Ministério das Comunicações/MCom) is going to provide broadband internet to the Yanomami Indigenous Reserve in the Brazilian state of Roraima. Access will be provided through the Geostationary Defense and Strategic Communications Satellite (Satélite Geoestacionário de Defesa e Comunicações Estratégicas/SGDC). The goal is to serve the local population and help the humanitarian teams that are working in the region. The ministry is also analyzing installation of fixed internet points in the region.

"Presently we’re capable of immediately offering internet access in 15 different places within the territory. This is more than double what is currently installed in Yanomami lands. Our goal is to ensure that the population is served in the best possible way, and to enable communication between doctors, humanitarian teams and the rest of the world, so that this situation can be overcome as soon as possible", said Minister Juscelino Filho.

Over the last few days, the Brazilian government has provided more than 1,000 emergency services to the Yanomami indigenous people. A federal task force has been operating in the region since March 20, following a presidential decree establishing the National Coordination Committee to Combat the Lack of Sanitary Assistance in the Yanomami Territory (Coordenação Nacional para Enfrentamento à Desassistência Sanitária no Território Yanomami). A Ministry of Health ordinance has also declared a Public Health Emergency in view of the need for an immediate response to the humanitarian crisis in Roraima.

Moreover, installation of an Air Force Field Hospital (Hospital de Campanha da Aeronáutica) began in January to assist the more than 700 patients who have been sent to the Yanomami Indigenous Health Support House (Casa de Apoio à Saúde Indígena/CASAI).

RESPONSE — President Lula visited the Yanomami CASAI on January 21 and determined that ministers from different fields adopt measures to face the serious crisis in this indigenous territory. Yanomami lands presently harbor over 30 thousand people.