The Brazilian Amazon’s population was one of the hardest hit by COVID-19 in the world during the first wave, and then saw complete health system collapse and oxygen running out in hospitals during the second.

Our 'Ajuda Amazônia' campaign responded by buying and distributing 20 tonnes of food, thousands of reusable masks and hundreds of packages of cleaning products to over one thousand families in the Tefé region. We work in collaboration with local groups and associations to leave power and agency in local hands, and direct donations to the families most in need.

Photo: Receiving some of our donations in the Jaquiri indigenous village in the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve - August 2020

The pandemic is exacerbating existing food insecurity during this time of year (~April-July), when the seasonal flood makes it tough to catch the local staple food of fish. This year the waters have already (as of May 20th) reached the second highest level since records began nearly 120 years ago. This is causing widespread flooding to houses, destroying crops, and making canoes the only means of transport even in many urban streets, which makes can make vaccination efforts even more challenging.

Photo: Vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 jab in the Amazon

With your donation we will buy food parcels and basic hygiene kits to be distributed by our local partners

Please give what you can

More information

The Brazilian sister campaign

Our Instagram with photos of our donations arriving in Amazonian villages

My work on Amazonian food insecurity and COVID-19 in English (News story and Scientific paper) or in Portuguese (News story and Podcast).

Our local partners: The Association of Indigenous Women of the Middle Solimões, The Association of Agro-extractive Producers from Tefé National Forest, The National Women's Council, The Tefé Municipal Health Secretary, The Tefé Municipal Social Assistance and Citizenship Secretary, Cáritas Tefé, The Indigenous Missionary Council, The Brazilian Environment Secretary, AAGEMAM/Uakari Lodge and The Mamirauá Sustainable Development Institute.