Brazil's Amazon Rainforest is facing a severe drought that threatens to affect around 500,000 people by the end of the year, warned the governor of the state of Amazonas, Wilson Lima, on Tuesday.
Lima was in Brasília, the capital of Brazil, to meet with representatives of the federal government, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, with the aim of discussing the drought crisis in the region.
On Sunday, the governor had announced the meeting on social media, stating that the different levels of government would work together to coordinate actions to support affected communities.
At this moment, fifteen municipalities in Amazonas are already in a state of emergency, while another 40 are on alert, according to information from the state civil defense authority.
Many residents are experiencing difficulties accessing essential goods, such as food and water, due to the region's dependence on waterways as the main means of transport. Additionally, river levels are historically low due to drought.
Fishing, which is the livelihood of many riverside communities, is also being seriously affected.
According to the port of the capital, Manaus, on Tuesday the water level of the Amazon River was 16.7 meters, around six meters lower than the same day the previous year. The lowest level recorded was on October 24, 2010, when it reached 13.6 meters.
In response to the prolonged drought, the state of Amazonas declared an environmental emergency two weeks ago and launched a response plan valued at US$20 million (€18.9 million). The state's civil protection agency also promised to distribute food, water and personal hygiene kits.
The situation is expected to prolong and worsen due to the El Niño climate phenomenon, which inhibits the formation of rain clouds, according to the civil protection authority.
Climate change is exacerbating droughts, making them more frequent, prolonged and intense. Rising temperatures lead to faster evaporation, reducing surface water reserves and causing droughts in soils and vegetation.
