Solar-powered well provides drinking water at Yanomami Indigenous Lands

Federal teams at the Yanomami Indigenous Lands [Terra Indígena Yanomami/TIY] are making progress on many fronts. Last week, Army personnel working in the Catrimani II operation drilled a well in the Special Indigenous Health District [Distrito Sanitário Especial Indígena/DSEI] in Surucucu. The goal of the operation was to ensure the water supply to the Indigenous Health Reference Center [Centro de Referência em Saúde Indígena]. The water will also benefit military personnel and other federal agents working in the region. The military personnel are assigned to the 6th Construction Engineering Battalion (6th BEC) [6º Batalhão de Engenharia de Construção/6° BEC].

The well is part of the Reference Center’s ongoing construction, which aims to improve local health conditions. It is 61 meters deep and has an estimated continuous flow rate of 3,000 liters per hour. The solar-powered pump significantly reduces costs, eliminating the need to transport fuel and has a low environmental impact.

Another well is being drilled by the military at the Koriyaoupe Village, located near the 4th Special Border Platoon (4th PEF) [4º Pelotão Especial de Fronteira/4° PEF]. In addition to the work in Surucucu, professionals from the Ministry of Health [Ministério da Saúde] and the Navy [Marinha] have been working to transport equipment from the Maloca Paapiú region to Kayanaú, where another well will be drilled.

Operation Catrimani II is part of large-scale Federal Government efforts at Yanomami Lands. In addition to combating illegal mining, military personnel are working building water supply infrastructure. The coordination of all the work in the Lands is promoted by the Government House [Casa de Governo] located in Roraima to monitor and coordinate federal teams working for the Yanomami agenda.