Brazil noble fire aid from the G7 countries - demands apology from Macron

Brazilian presidential chief of staff Onyx Lorenzoni instead calls on Emmanuel Macron to "take care of his own home and colonies."

- We appreciate it (the offer), but the resources are perhaps more relevant to replanting forests in Europe, he tells G1.

The statement comes partly after the G7 leaders agreed over the weekend to immediately contribute $ 20 million, just over SEK 214 million, to the firefighting in the Amazon rainforest. But also because Macron wrote on Twitter before the meeting that it is an international crisis that should be prioritized.

Later on Sunday, President Jair Bolsonaro tweeted that the proposal was "inappropriate and a reckless attack on the Amazon," and on Monday he announced that Macron must apologize before receiving any kind of assistance, according to Reuters news agency.

- He called me a liar. He must take it back before we agree on anything, Bolsonaro told the media.

In addition to the fires destroying large parts of the rainforest, they also create health problems for many people. Several hospitals in the region are overloaded with patients who are suffering from, among other things, breathing difficulties as a result of the toxic fire smoke, reports G1.

Four-year-old Maycon is one of many children in the region who have sought medical care lately.

- He had breathing difficulties, so we rushed to the emergency room, where he was admitted immediately. Now he feels better and gets both antibiotics and oxygen, says his mother Marciela Damásio to the G1 news site.

According to her, doctors will not print the boy in the next few days as there is a high risk of him coming back because of the smoke clouds.

The boy is not alone in seeking medical care for health problems related to the fires. The pediatric hospital in Porto Velho states that the pediatric emergency room has received 120 children with breathing difficulties between August 1 and August 10, and 380 children between August 11 and August 20.

Fire smoke is dangerous because it contains many toxic substances, including carbon monoxide (CO). When inhaled, it reaches the blood, preventing the transport of oxygen to body cells and tissues, G1 reports.