Historic Drought Slows Food Distribution and Threatens Water Supplies in Amazon Region

08/09/2016 - 12h02

In Manaus, food that used to arrive in four days is taking twice as long and could end up being more expensive. In Rio Branco, wells have dried up and there is a threat of rationing. From Rondônia to Amazonas, the Madeira River is running shallow and navigation is limited at night.

The source of national pride, glorified at the Olympic opening last Friday (the 5th), the Amazônia's southern region is suffering from an historic drought.

The El Niño phenomena, which started in 2015, is primarily responsible for the situation in the area. There are also effects from livestock ranching on riverbanks, which destroys the riparian forest in addition to rerouting streams to supply local farms.

The Acre River, the only source of fresh water in Rio Branco is at its lowest level in 40 years, since measurement taking began.

Rivers in Rondônia and Amazonas have also never reached such alarmingly low levels in any period since 1970.

The Madeira River in Rondônia has also reached a level of 3,01 m, lower than what is expected during this period. Due to the situation, the Navy has limited navigation of cargo vessels during the night because they risk getting stuck on sand bars.

The stretch with the limits goes from Porto Velho to Humaitá (Amazônia). The Naval Captaincy of Western Amazônia hasn't ruled out the possibility of restricting nighttime navigation in other stretches, as well as extending the limit to passenger boats.

One of the consequences is that the trip by river takes longer for people and food, and rivers are the primary "highway" in the Northern region of the country.

A trip between the Capitals of Porto Velho and Manaus, which used to take four days, now takes seven. Going in the other direction takes even longer: formerly eight and now fifteen days. 40% of the cargo of food, grain and construction material that arrives in Manaus depends of the Madeira river.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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