魚大量死のアマゾン熱帯雨林地帯に支援拡充へ　ブラジル

【サンパウロＡＦＰ＝時事】ブラジルのジェラルド・アルキミン副大統領は４日、深刻な干ばつでアマゾン川などの水位が低下するなどして大量の魚やイルカが死んでいるのが見つかった北部アマゾナス州を対象に、支援を拡充する考えを示した。（写真はブラジル・アマゾナス州のアマゾン川支流をヘリで視察するジェラルド・アルキミン副大統領。大統領府提供）
　アルキミン氏は、股関節の手術を受け行動が制限されているルイス・イナシオ・ルラ・ダシルバ大統領の要請を受け、一部閣僚と共にアマゾナス州を訪問。ヘリで視察した後、州都マナウスで記者団に対し、「必要な資源が不足しないようにしたい。住民の支援に向けできるだけ早急に資源の提供を拡充できるよう動いている」と語った。
　熱帯雨林に覆われるアマゾナス州は現在、乾期だが、エルニーニョ現象の影響が重なり雨量が一段と減少。アマゾン川の水位が低下し、魚やアマゾンカワイルカが大量に死んでいる。
　流域住民にとっても、川の水位低下により、物資運搬や移動の手段としての水路利用に支障が出る事態となっている。
　マリナ・シルバ環境相は先週、干ばつの影響が深刻な約５０万人が住む地域を対象に緊急援助を提供する方針を発表。政府はこれとは別に、アマゾン川支流のマデイラ川と、上流部のソリモンイス川でしゅんせつ工事を行うための費用として１億３８００万レアル（約４０億円）を拠出した。航行に十分な水深を確保するのが狙い。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/10/05-16:26）

Brazil's Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin said Wednesday that more help would be sent to an Amazon state where rivers are drying up in a severe drought, causing mass die-offs of fish and dolphins.
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.
Last week Silva announced the government was sending emergency aid to the area, where the drought is affecting some 500,000 people.
The government has also released 138 million reais ($27 million) to dredge the Madeira and Solimoes rivers to increase the depth of waterways and facilitate navigation.
Alckmin said this could take up to 45 days to complete.
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.