Brazilian Air Force Indigenous Relief Missions

Doctors and dentists of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) pose near a FAB plane upon embarking on a relief mission to remote areas of Roraima state from Manaus, Brazil. The Brazilian Air force has adopted a three part policy for the remote Amazon region near the Venezuela and Guyana borders: To show a presence of state in the inaccessible area, by taking medical personnel to those areas and finally, to train pilots in during real-life relief missions in an extreme environment. The increased presence in the area is, in part, to combat drug trafficking from Colombia into Brazil through Venezuela, which has increased after borders areas with Colombia have become more secure. Some say it may also be a reaction to Venezuela's recent acquisition of Russian-made helicopters and fighter jets. (Australfoto/Douglas Engle)

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Doctors and dentists of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) pose near a FAB plane upon embarking on a relief mission to remote areas of Roraima state from Manaus, Brazil. The Brazilian Air force has adopted a three part policy for the remote Amazon region near the Venezuela and Guyana borders: To show a presence of state in the inaccessible area, by taking medical personnel to those areas and finally, to train pilots in during real-life relief missions in an extreme environment. The increased presence in the area is, in part, to combat drug trafficking from Colombia into Brazil through Venezuela, which has increased after borders areas with Colombia have become more secure. Some say it may also be a reaction to Venezuela's recent acquisition of Russian-made helicopters and fighter jets. (Australfoto/Douglas Engle)

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