The sister of a British journalist who disappeared in one of the most remote corners of the Amazon has shed a tearful plea to the Brazilian authorities “to do everything they can” in the search to find her brother, warning: “Every minute counts “.
Dom Phillips, a freelancer who has written about Brazil for The Guardian, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and others, disappeared with Bruno Araujo Pereira, a local expert and former government official whose mission was to protect the tribes. uncontacted from Brazil.
The couple last saw each other over the weekend in the Javari Valley, in the state of Amazonas, near the border with Peru. The Javari region is home to the most uncontacted indigenous people in the world.
According to The Guardian, Pereira had received several threats from loggers and miners in the region.
Image: Dom Phillips is a contributor to The Guardian
In an emotional video call posted on social media, Sian Phillips struggled to hold back tears as he urged authorities to search for his brother, who has been missing since Sunday.
“My brother Dom has been living in Brazil with his Brazilian wife,” he said. “He loves the country and is deeply concerned about the Amazon and the people there.
“We knew it was a dangerous place, but Dom really believed that it was possible to safeguard the nature and livelihood of the natives.
“He is a talented journalist and was researching a book when he disappeared yesterday.”
He continued: “We are very concerned about him and urge the Brazilian authorities to do everything they can to find the path he is following.
“If someone can help increase the resources available for search, it would be great, because time is of the essence.
“Here in the UK, my other brother and I are desperately worried. We love our brother and want him and his Brazilian guide Bruno Pereira to meet.
“Every minute counts.”
Melanie Hopkins, the UK’s acting ambassador to Brazil, wrote on Twitter: “We are following the case of the disappearance of British journalist Dom Phillips, who was with the indigenous Bruno Araújo Pereira in the Amazon.
“We are in contact with local authorities and offer consular support to the family. We look forward to hearing from you soon.”
Vicky Ford, who is the minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, added that the UK embassy in Brazil is in contact with local Brazilian authorities and “also offers consular support to her family.” .
The Brazilian Navy sent a 10-man crew on Monday to search for Phillips and Pereira. Brazilian federal police said they are also working to locate the couple.
A spokesman for the British Foreign Office said he was in contact with Brazilian authorities.