Days without sun and respiratory problems at the heart of the Amazon drama

PORTO VELHO.-
The crisis caused by the huge increase of fires in Amazonia is felt in Porto Velho, the capital of the state of Rondonia, in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. The sun can not be seen clearly at any time of the day; persistent smoke-filled fog always reminds of the proximity of the hazard lights,
envelops the city with suffocating heat and multiplies respiratory problems among its half million inhabitants.

On the orders of President Jair Bolsonaro, the Armed Forces created here the command center of the actions of the fight against the flames in the framework of an operation called "Green Brazil", although the color most often seen is that of the black thick vegetation. charred surroundings.

From January to Sunday, 80,626 forest fires were recorded throughout the country, including more than half in the Amazon, an increase of 87% over the same period last year.

"The burns to clean the earth are common for this time of year, during the dry season, but I have never seen anything like this in my life.I do not know if it 's Is deforestation or what, but something is wrong and concerns us all "stressed the nation Edi Alencar, a 72 year old retiree who does not part with her eye drops to prevent her eyes from getting irritated going to the supermarket.

The elderly and children with whom most suffer the effects of smoke from the jungle. Nowadays, in the waiting room of Cosme e Damião Children's Hospital, there are constantly parents of children with recurrent problems: cough, dry throat, difficulties Respiratory, bleeding nose due to inflammation of the mucous membranes, irritated eyes and fever.

While caressing the bad of her daughter Ana Julia, 6, the cook Juliane Chagas, 30, explained the malaise that afflicts the baby for a fortnight. "It is with a dry cough, which is not a cold.This starts in the afternoons and evenings, it does not go to sleep.We have already tried with syrup and inhalations, but nothing soothes, "he noted during his second visit to the doctor this week.

Outside, a brief shower led several parents to gather at the door to celebrate the unexpected arrival of the water. "Let's hope that with a little humidity, it will bring us some calm, I have three of my children with coughs and rhinitis and I've even missed days." 39, school, "said Professor Regiane Martins, 38 years old.

After a few minutes of rest, pediatrician Daniel Pires, deputy general manager of the hospital, explained that the most critical moment was the one of two weeks ago, while they were pbaded from 120 children with respiratory problems to 380 per day. "We care a lot, but the rain has mitigated the effects," he said, noting that, in addition to the developing immune system and minor airways, children are the most affected by current environmental conditions because they usually spend their time playing outside and therefore remain more exposed

At the headquarters of the 17th Infantry Brigade of the jungle, belonging to the army, the movement was constant yesterday, although a near-secret was maintained around the operations of fighting against the army. ;fire. The Army has taken control of all the information flows provided so far freely by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) and the Protection System Management and Operation Center. of the Amazon (Censipam). After a meeting with these agencies, besides the National Security Force and the Military Fire Department, it was only reported that the money earmarked for Operation Green Brazil had increased from 400 to 900 men and women, with about 150 patrols and 20 planes (planes and helicopters) to combat environmental damage, with the focus being on the sources of fire.

Meanwhile, President Bolsonaro announced that he would meet today with the governors of the nine Amazon states (Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Para, Rondonia, Roraima and Tocantins) to reveal "the truth about what others want" vis – à – vis the Amazon. "To be a John 8.32," he said of the biblical quote that "you will know the truth and the truth will set you free".

Skeptical about climate change because of human activity, Bolsonaro had defended until last week the anti-environmentalist stance he had openly expressed during the election campaign of the United States. last year. Already in power, he cut public funds for environmental agencies, reduced control operations for the preservation of the Amazon and the fines applied to consider that they were an obstacle to the economic development of the region. Last month, he questioned official figures from the National Institute of Space Research (INPE), which showed a dramatic increase in deforestation in the first half of the year, and had dismissed its functions the director of the agency. Last week, he even suggested that environmentalist government organizations (NGOs) are behind forest fires. His statements deepened the international crisis on the issue and led the European Union (EU) to threaten to take trade sanctions and not to ratify the recently signed free trade agreement between the US and the EU. EU and Mercosur.

In the streets of Porto Velho, the problem has sparked a lot of controversy. There are those who support the president in his development crusade and his criticism of NGOs, and those who think that the president has aggravated the already delicate situation of Brazil, on the brink of a new economic recession.

"NGOs and European leaders are not really worried about the preservation of the jungle, they want our wealth, even the water of the Amazon is taken to Europe for sale. a lot of money in the jungle, but this money does not reach indigenous communities and local people living in the Amazon.We also have the right to grow, "complained the lawyer José Lima , 50 years old, at a bus stop.

A few meters further, in a bar of Plaza Mariscal Rondón, a group of young students lamented the support of Bolsonaro's vision among the most grown-up generations.

"They do not realize that with the devastation of the jungle, we are losing everything and we are left with no future here." The "cattle cartel", the breeders who push the most towards deforestation, are only pursuing their interest "Those who live here do not care about us," said Pedro dos Santos, 18, a computer science student.

In the corner, among the speakers of the International Church of God's Grace, a squeaky voice yelled over the Apocalypse as the sun set on the other side of the river Madeira – a tributary of the Amazon – in the middle of a menacing haze.