• Children look at the camera in an impoverished area in the unpacified Complexo da Mare slum complex, one of the largest ‘favela’ complexes in Rio. (Mario Tama/ / Getty Images / March 30, 2014)
    Children look at the camera in an impoverished area in the unpacified Complexo da Mare slum complex, one of the largest ‘favela’ complexes in Rio. (Mario Tama/ / Getty Images / March 30, 2014)
  • BOPE, the military police elite troop battalion, enter the unpacified Complexo da Mare. (Buda Mendes / Getty Images / March 30, 2014)
    BOPE, the military police elite troop battalion, enter the unpacified Complexo da Mare. (Buda Mendes / Getty Images / March 30, 2014)
  • Jessica washes dishes at the one pipe with running water available to dozens of area residents. (Mario Tama / Getty Images / March 30, 2014)
    Jessica washes dishes at the one pipe with running water available to dozens of area residents. (Mario Tama / Getty Images / March 30, 2014)
  • Residents look on as Brazilian military police officers patrol the Complexo da Mare. (Mario Tama / Getty Images / March 30, 2014)
    Residents look on as Brazilian military police officers patrol the Complexo da Mare. (Mario Tama / Getty Images / March 30, 2014)
  • Joao Vitor kneels with a dog in the Complexo da Mare slum. (Mario Tama / Getty Images / March 30, 2014)
    Joao Vitor kneels with a dog in the Complexo da Mare slum. (Mario Tama / Getty Images / March 30, 2014)
  • A police armoured vehicle drives through the Mare favela cluster during a police raid. (Marcelo Sayao / EPA / March 30, 2014)
    A police armoured vehicle drives through the Mare favela cluster during a police raid. (Marcelo Sayao / EPA / March 30, 2014)
  • A woman kisses a baby in the Cantagalo shantytown community. The pacified favela, and neighboring Pavao-Pavaozinho, stand above Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. Ahead of the World Cup, some of Rio’s pacified favelas have seen an increase in violence, including a number of shootings in Pavao-Pavaozinho. (Mario Tama / Getty Images / March 30, 2014)
    A woman kisses a baby in the Cantagalo shantytown community. The pacified favela, and neighboring Pavao-Pavaozinho, stand above Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. Ahead of the World Cup, some of Rio’s pacified favelas have seen an increase in violence, including a number of shootings in Pavao-Pavaozinho. (Mario Tama / Getty Images / March 30, 2014)
  • Police officers from the Pacifying Police Unit (UPP) patrol the streets at the Complexo do Alemao slum in Rio de Janeiro. (Pilar Olivares / Reuters / March 30, 2014)
    Police officers from the Pacifying Police Unit (UPP) patrol the streets at the Complexo do Alemao slum in Rio de Janeiro. (Pilar Olivares / Reuters / March 30, 2014)
  • Cable cars are seen over the Complexo do Alemao slum in Rio de Janeiro. After a half-century of neglect, it seemed the government finally cared about Rio’s notorious slums, or favelas, with the implementation of an effort to reclaim huge swaths of the city from criminals. (Pilar Olivares / Reuters / March 30, 2014)
    Cable cars are seen over the Complexo do Alemao slum in Rio de Janeiro. After a half-century of neglect, it seemed the government finally cared about Rio’s notorious slums, or favelas, with the implementation of an effort to reclaim huge swaths of the city from criminals. (Pilar Olivares / Reuters / March 30, 2014)

World

In pictures: Police raid Rio favelas in pre-World Cup security push

Robert Gurdebeke

March 31, 2014

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The Brazilian government is deploying federal forces to occupy a group of violence-plagued favelas ahead of the June 12 start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Complexo da Mare slum complex is one of the largest favela complexes in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil