On February 11, 2005 the Ministry of Social Development (MDS) began delivering
food baskets to the Guarani-Kaiowá in Matto Grosso in response to high
levels of malnutrition caused by lack of land for agricultural production. Currently
11,000 people live on only 3.5 thousand hectares of land, approximately a half
an acre per person. According to the National Foundation of Health (FUNASA),
in 2004 over 15 indigenous people in the Matto Grosso area died as a result of
malnutrition and two children have already died in 2005. Food baskets contain
basic food items such as milk, oil, rice, beans, sugar, and coffee. MDS is preparing
to deliver thousands of baskets over the next six months, while developing land
reform solutions with other Indian agencies.