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Ivory Coast's forgotten acrid waste Ivory Coast's forgotten acrid waste
(20 minutes later)
By John James BBC News, AbidjanBy John James BBC News, Abidjan
A red triangle with a skull and cross bones symbol gives the first indication that this area on the outskirts of Ivory Coast's main city Abidjan is no rural idyll.A red triangle with a skull and cross bones symbol gives the first indication that this area on the outskirts of Ivory Coast's main city Abidjan is no rural idyll.
Women may use their heads to carry wood back home while men snooze in the shade of the trees, but a slight odour hangs in the air.Women may use their heads to carry wood back home while men snooze in the shade of the trees, but a slight odour hangs in the air.
In August 2006 a local company hastily fly-tipped truckload after truckload of chemical waste at around 15 locations around the city.In August 2006 a local company hastily fly-tipped truckload after truckload of chemical waste at around 15 locations around the city.
There are still problems. People have upset stomachs, headaches, spots all over their body Resident Laurent Bissio Kama The United Nations says it led to at least 16 deaths and more than 100,000 other victims needing medical treatment. There are still problems. People have upset stomachs, headaches, spots all over their body Resident Laurent Bissio Kama
Two years on the waste is still here. The United Nations says the dumping of the 500m tonnes of waste led to at least 16 deaths and more than 100,000 other victims needing medical treatment.
Two years on it is still here.
At some sites like the one in the suburb of Abobo, the contaminated earth has since been collected into giant bags which pile up above head height over an area of two tennis courts.At some sites like the one in the suburb of Abobo, the contaminated earth has since been collected into giant bags which pile up above head height over an area of two tennis courts.
The site is next to a main road, a village and a major path. The villagers, like Laurent Bissio Kama, say they have no choice but to stay here.The site is next to a main road, a village and a major path. The villagers, like Laurent Bissio Kama, say they have no choice but to stay here.
"There are still problems. People have upset stomachs, headaches, spots all over their body," he says."There are still problems. People have upset stomachs, headaches, spots all over their body," he says.
Residents near the contaminated site have no choice but to stayResidents near the contaminated site have no choice but to stay
"We've taken tablets and we drink a lot of water, but there are people you couldn't even bear to look at."We've taken tablets and we drink a lot of water, but there are people you couldn't even bear to look at.
"New babies don't have the strength to resist, while for pregnant women, it's really serious.""New babies don't have the strength to resist, while for pregnant women, it's really serious."
The UN special rapporteur on the dumping of toxic waste, Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu, recently spent four days in the country speaking to officials and victims.The UN special rapporteur on the dumping of toxic waste, Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu, recently spent four days in the country speaking to officials and victims.
"After almost two years, these sites have still not been decontaminated and continue to threaten the lives and health of tens of thousands of residents, across different social spectrums in Abidjan."After almost two years, these sites have still not been decontaminated and continue to threaten the lives and health of tens of thousands of residents, across different social spectrums in Abidjan.
"The government has informed me that it does not have the technical capacity to clean up and decontaminate the dumpsites in a timelier manner," he said in a statement."The government has informed me that it does not have the technical capacity to clean up and decontaminate the dumpsites in a timelier manner," he said in a statement.
"This should be an absolute priority.""This should be an absolute priority."
CompensationCompensation
He called on the international community to provide more technical assistance urgently - and said much more needed to be done to provide adequate compensation.He called on the international community to provide more technical assistance urgently - and said much more needed to be done to provide adequate compensation.
Two years on from the disaster the chemical waste still remainsTwo years on from the disaster the chemical waste still remains
Thousands of victims say they have yet to receive compensation - or say that what they have been given - around $500 (£250) in the main injury category - falls short of the amount they have lost in medical bills and earnings.Thousands of victims say they have yet to receive compensation - or say that what they have been given - around $500 (£250) in the main injury category - falls short of the amount they have lost in medical bills and earnings.
The government says it is already paid compensation to the majority of the 95,000 people entitled to treatment and says it continues to encourage people to come forward to make claims.The government says it is already paid compensation to the majority of the 95,000 people entitled to treatment and says it continues to encourage people to come forward to make claims.
The money that has being paid out by the government comes from a Dutch multi-national, Trafigura.The money that has being paid out by the government comes from a Dutch multi-national, Trafigura.
It had chartered the ship carrying the waste, which unloaded the waste in Ivory Coast, after a failure to agree deals to get it treated in the Netherlands and Nigeria.It had chartered the ship carrying the waste, which unloaded the waste in Ivory Coast, after a failure to agree deals to get it treated in the Netherlands and Nigeria.
It said it had contracted a local firm, Tommy, to handle the waste in good faith.It said it had contracted a local firm, Tommy, to handle the waste in good faith.
In an out-of-court settlement, Trafigura agreed to pay the Ivorian government around $200m (£100m) in one of the largest ever payments of its kind.In an out-of-court settlement, Trafigura agreed to pay the Ivorian government around $200m (£100m) in one of the largest ever payments of its kind.
The company did not admit liability and said the payment was made out of sympathy for Ivorian people.The company did not admit liability and said the payment was made out of sympathy for Ivorian people.
It also disputes whether the chemical slops were the cause of the large number of medical cases.It also disputes whether the chemical slops were the cause of the large number of medical cases.
Legal proceedingsLegal proceedings
Professor Ibeanu says more should be done to pursue criminal proceedings.Professor Ibeanu says more should be done to pursue criminal proceedings.
"This is to send a signal to other trans-national corporations and individuals that such crimes will not go unpunished and that Africa is not a cheap dumping ground.""This is to send a signal to other trans-national corporations and individuals that such crimes will not go unpunished and that Africa is not a cheap dumping ground."
Cases are still outstanding in the UK and the Netherlands.Cases are still outstanding in the UK and the Netherlands.
As yet, no-one has been held responsible, despite suspicions of the involvement of influential members of Ivorian society.As yet, no-one has been held responsible, despite suspicions of the involvement of influential members of Ivorian society.