Brazil: Guarani Indian children die of starvation

Submitted by crinadmin on Thu, 22/02/2007 - 11:03

[22 February 2007] - Two children from the Guarani Kaiowá tribe have died of starvation, and several dozen are being treated in hospital for severe malnutrition.

Within days of the children's deaths, Valdinez Souza, a Guarani health worker and father of two children, hanged himself. He left a note by his body saying he had killed himself because children in his community are suffering from acute hunger.

Despite this alarming situation, the Mato Grosso do Sul state government has cut food aid to the Guarani.

Brazil's health foundation, FUNASA, says it will distribute food baskets to needy families, but many fear this will only be a temporary measure.

For more information on the Guarani's malnutrition crisis, click here

Related information

UN Declaration on indigenous people blocked at the General Assembly (30 November 2006)

pdf: http://www.survival-international.org/news.php?id=2231

Country:

Brazil

Issues:

Minority or indigenous children

Attachment Link:

http://www.survival-international.org/news.php?id=2231

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.