Amazon’s Severe Drought and Water Crisis Worsened by Climate Factors
In Amazonas state, where 59 out of 62 municipalities are under a state of emergency due to drought and water scarcity, the situation is dire, with residents enduring hardships, including the challenge of obtaining drinkable water, due to the prolonged dry conditions. (Photo: brazzil.com)
Remote Amazon Communities Struggle for Vital Supplies During Drought
According to source, as the Amazon grapples with an ongoing drought, Brazilian public authorities face the daunting challenge of providing food and water to isolated communities within the vast and roadless Amazon region, where transportation is primarily reliant on boats. In Amazonas state, spanning an area equivalent to three Californias, a state of emergency has been declared in 59 out of its 62 municipalities, impacting approximately 633,000 people, intensifying the impact of the drought and water scarcity. In the state capital, Manaus, the Negro River, a significant Amazon tributary, has reached its lowest level in 121 years of official record-keeping, further exacerbating concerns regarding drought and water shortages.
One of the severely affected cities is Careiro da Varzea, situated near the Amazon River, where the consequences of the drought and water scarcity are most pronounced. In response to the crisis, the municipality employed an improvised cattle barge to distribute emergency kits to communities, but it could only dock miles away, compelling residents, primarily consisting of small farmers and fishermen, to embark on arduous journeys across former riverbeds that have transformed into endless sandbanks and mud.
Each family received a basic food package and 20 liters (5.3 gallons) of water, which, while helpful, only provides a few days’ worth of supplies and is challenging to transport in the scorching heat.
Rural Amazonian Struggle to Survive During Prolonged Water Scarcity
The drought and water scarcity have significantly disrupted the daily lives of people in Careiro da Varzea, with drinkable water being an urgent and pressing concern. Many residents are forced to undertake long journeys to reach the nearest water source, magnifying the challenges brought about by the drought and water shortage. Jean Costa de Souza, the chief of Civil Defense in Careiro da Varzea, stressed that the entire municipality has been affected by the drought and water scarcity.
Some residents have incurred losses due to the drought, as their crops have withered, while others have struggled to transport their goods, further underscoring the multifaceted impact of the drought and water scarcity on the community. The municipality is currently conducting its first round of deliveries to rural communities, with two additional rounds planned, contingent on aid from state and federal governments, in an effort to mitigate the challenges posed by the prolonged drought and water scarcity.
This drought is part of the Amazon’s cyclic weather pattern, characterized by reduced rainfall from May to October. However, this year, the duration of the dry season is being extended due to two climate phenomena: the warming of northern tropical Atlantic Ocean waters and the El Niño effect, which is expected to peak between December and January, contributing to the protracted drought crisis and exacerbating water scarcity in the Amazon region.
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