The activities carried out in the operation are conducted jointly by the Armed Forces and the Federal Government
Air Force Agency, by Lieutenant Johny Lucas
The Amazon Joint Operational Command (Cmdo Op Cj Amz), under the command of Air Major Brigadier Raimundo Nogueira Lopes Neto, completed 30 days of Joint Command, reinforcing the actions to confront Public Health Emergencies of National Importance and to combat illegal mining in the Yanomami Territory, in Boa Vista (RR).
The Commander of Cmdo Op Cj Amz, Air Major Brigadier Nogueira, made a balance of the work developed jointly between the Armed Forces and the Federal Government in the Yanomami region, in these 30 days.
“We have several results. In addition to all this support, we have transported more than 400 tons of supplies to the Yanomami region, including supplies, medicines, and materials to assist the indigenous people; we have flown more than 1200 hours. Perhaps, after Covid, this is the largest operation ever carried out in terms of flight hours in recent years by the Armed Forces. It is a great satisfaction to reach these numbers, with zero accidents, zero incidents, and with interagency participation. The participation of several governmental agencies has made our work generate a great synergy, and we can only celebrate this”, he highlighted.
The Subcommander of the Operation, Brigadier General Marcelo Lorenzini Zucco, emphasized the interoperability of the three Forces. “The Navy, the Army, and the Air Force work together in coordination so that these results are achieved. I also want to emphasize that we, as a state institution, have been in the Yanomami region for more than 50 years, since the first Army detachments that, together with the Commission of Airports of the Amazon Region (COMARA) built the first airstrips in the region of Surucucu, at the end of the 1970s, and Auaris, at the beginning of the 1980s. So for us this 30 days is a milestone”, he said.
Ordinance
The Ministry of Defense activated, on February 3rd, through Administrative Order no. 710, the Cmdo Op Cj Amz to act in the area of the State of Roraima and in the portion of the State of Amazonas included in the Yanomami Indigenous Land. The document provides guidelines in the coordination and planning of the employment of the Armed Forces (Brazilian Navy, Brazilian Army and Brazilian Air Force).
Air Defense Identification Zone
The second phase of the operation established total air traffic control in the northern region of the country. Three flight corridors were created in order to allow the coordinated and spontaneous departure of non-indigenous people from the illegal mining areas by air, who will be able to fly out of the region until April 6, 2023.
Field Hospital
The Field Hospital (HCAMP) of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has seen 1687 indigenous people since it opened in Boa Vista, at the Indigenous Health House (CASAI).
According to the Commander of the HCAMP, Medical Major Felipe Figueiredo, the health of the indigenous people has evolved satisfactorily, with no major transfers to hospitals in the capital. “Since then, what we have been noticing is a reduction in the number of patients. This joint work with Doctors Without Borders, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the National Force of the Single Health System has stabilized the situation,” he informed.
Yanomami Representative
The Vice President of the Hutukara Associação Yanomami, Dário Vitório Kopenawa Yanomami, who has been acting for 18 years as an advocacy representative for 30 thousand Yanomamis, 363 villages in the states of Roraima and Amazonas, congratulated the work done by the Amazon Joint Operational Command. “Your role is very important at this time when we are experiencing a health crisis. So many planes, so many basic food baskets. We didn’t have this experience. It is the first time that we are evaluating the logistics and solidarity collaboration with the Yanomami people,” he said.
Photos: CECOMSAER – Video: Sgt. André Souza / CECOMSAER – *** Translated by the DEFCONPress FYI Team DeepL ***