October 23, 2021

10:10

Gabriel Abreu – from Cenarium

MANAUS – The governor of Amapá, Waldez Goés (PDT), decreed on Thursday, 21, a state of public calamity in the region of the District of Bailique, affected by the salinization of water in the river and the erosion of riverbanks. The state manager intensified actions in the community that has been going through a water supply crisis, since consumption is prohibited. The residents also report that they cannot even wash their clothes or their dishes.

“With the decree, I authorize the mobilization of all state agencies to act in the necessary support and rehabilitation actions. Our goal is to optimize the assistance provided to the local residents”, said Waldez Goés.

The effects of the decree are valid for 180 days and include the region of Bailique, a district of Macapá, and areas of the towns of Amapá and Itaubal, which were also affected by the phenomenon. Besides the salt water, the residents live with the risk of erosion on the slopes. The phenomenon, which occurs during the Amazon summer – from the second half of the year on – is natural, but the inhabitants of the riverside area report that, at least in the last four years, the intensity of the salt water has been greater.

A study by the Institute for Scientific and Technological Research of Amapá (Iepa) seeks to understand whether the acceleration of the phenomenon is due to environmental deforestation and the silting up of the Araguari River, which flows into the Amazon.

Reports

CENARIUM MAGAZINE talked to residents of the District of Bailique. Among them is Aldilene Costa da Silva, who reported difficulty with water collection, since her house is completely surrounded by salt water.

“We don’t have any way to treat the water and we really wish that the government would help us with a water tank to store water. This is the only way for us to survive”, said Aldilene.

See below a record of the place where Aldilene Costa da Silva lives:Aldilene Costa da Silva reports the difficulty for residents to drink water in the region. (Personal archive)

Social assistance

The residents of Bailique are being helped by the government with drinking water supplies. The first 100 thousand liters of water, out of a total of 500 thousand liters that will be sent, have already arrived in the region to supply the communities of Itamatatuba, São Pedro Curuá, Carneiro, Maúba, and Vila Progresso, and new lots are on their way.

Georeferenced photos

The State Civil Defense and the Institute for Scientific and Technological Research of Amapá (Iepa) are conducting a work of georeferenced photos of the communities to gather information about how the structures of the archipelago have been affected by the phenomena of erosion (Terras Caídas) and salinization.

This record includes precise geographical location data. The survey will be fundamental to develop new public policies directed to Bailique, according to the changes that the region is going through.