Drought Worsens Health Crisis for Peru's Matsés Indigenous Community

A severe drought is exacerbating a long-standing health crisis among the Matsés Indigenous people in Peru's Amazon Rainforest. The community, which had limited contact with outsiders until the 1960s, has struggled with deadly diseases since making contact with missionaries. Roberto Necca Tumi Unan, one of the community's last surviving elders, recalled how the Matsés would hide from outsiders and rival groups to avoid confrontation. The community's decision to make contact with missionaries in 1969 brought some peace, but also marked the beginning of a decades-long struggle against diseases such as influenza and pneumonia. The drought has further strained the community's resources, making it harder for them to access basic necessities like clean water and food.