Geraldo Alckmin, the vice president of Brazil, announced on Wednesday that extra assistance would be given to an Amazonian state whose rivers are drying up due to a severe drought, which is leading to widespread fish and dolphin deaths.
“There will be no shortage of resources for whatever is needed. We are working to free up more resources as quickly as possible to help the population,” Alckmin told journalists in northern Manaus, after a helicopter trip to assess the crisis.
Alckmin and other government ministers visited Amazonas State at the request of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is recovering from a hip replacement.
Amazonas, Brazil’s biggest state, covered in immense expanses of tropical forest, is currently in its dry season, which has been worsened by the El Nino warming phenomenon that reduces cloud formation, meaning even less rain than usual.
Environment Minister Marina Silva said that “the warming of the North Atlantic due to uncontrolled climate change” was exacerbating the dry spell.
Aside from mass die-offs of fish and pink river dolphins, low water levels are impeding travel on the waterways which is crucial for local communities to receive supplies and move around.
Authorities are prioritizing the supply of food, water, fuel and medicine to affected populations in Amazonas.
Silva revealed last week that the government was delivering emergency relief to the region, where 500,000 people are being affected by the drought.
In order to deepen waterways and improve navigation, the government has also approved 138 million reais ($27 million) for dredging the Madeira and Solimoes rivers.
Alckmin estimated that it might take up to 45 days to finish.
“According to experts, the rainy season will only begin in November in the region, and it will be hard for rivers to return to their normal levels,” said Amazonas governor Wilson Lima.
