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Payout for Ivorian toxic victims Poisoned Ivorians reject payout
(about 22 hours later)
The Ivory Coast has announced details of compensation to victims of last year's toxic waste scandal in Abidjan. Victims of last year's toxic waste scandal in Ivory Coast have rejected the government's offer of compensation.
The families of 16 people who died when poisonous waste was dumped in the city will get $200,000 (£100,000) each, with $408 each to thousands who became ill. The families of 16 people who died when the waste was dumped in Abidjan were offered $200,000 (£100,000) each, with smaller sums to thousands who fell ill.
But the amount is less than half the total allocated to the state. Victims' groups dismissed the offer as cynical. The amount is less than half the total allocated to the government.
The Dutch company which chartered the vessel that allegedly dumped the waste said it would pay $198m (£102m) to the government for a clean-up and inquiry. The Dutch company which chartered the vessel said it would pay $198m (£102m) for a clean-up and investigation.
The oil-trading group Trafigura agreed to pay the money in February but said it was not liable for what happened. The oil-trading group Trafigura agreed to pay the money in February but said it was not liable for dumping the waste.
'Intensely political' 'Huge tension'
Some of its compensation money was intended to upgrade medical and sanitary facilities, and some to compensate the state for its costs in cleaning up Abidjan. Several victims' associations complained they had not been consulted about the pay scheme, announced by President Laurent Gbagbo on Friday.
Instead of being incinerated the waste was dumpedPresident Laurent Gbagbo's spokesman said the payments to victims were equal, irrespective of the age of the deceased, because it would be wrong to distinguish between the dead. The BBC's James Copnall in Abidjan says the victims are incensed that those who were made sick by the toxic waste will receive only $408.
The 75 people who were hospitalised should receive about $4,000. Officials say the money will be made available from the middle of next week. Instead of being incinerated the waste was dumped
The BBC's James Copnall in Abidjan says the public release of the compensation scheme will go some way to alleviating the criticism the government has faced on this issue. Aime, one of the thousands of victims, said the payout was not enough to cover the health costs over a prolonged period.
Many people had worried that the state would simply pocket everything it received from Trafigura, he says. "Many efforts have been made by the victims to stay alive, so the government must recognise the efforts," she told the BBC.
But the fact that so much of the money goes to the state rather than individuals will certainly leave some people unhappy. Under the scheme the families of the dead were allocated $200,000 each, the 75 people who were hospitalised about $4,000 and $408 for those who fell ill.
Victims associations have already complained. One told the BBC that they had not been consulted at any stage. However, about two-thirds of the compensation payments will be made to the state and local government to improve health and sanitary facilities and reimburse a clean-up operation.
Our correspondent says at the time the scandal was intensely political in a country which is heavily divided following a civil war. All sides used the disaster as an opportunity to blame their rivals. One angry victim said he could not believe money he felt he should have received would go to what he called "development projects".
It is still believed that there is a substantial amount of toxic waste which has not been cleared up. Our correspondent says the toxic waste scandal has been a source of huge tension in Ivory Coast and that looks set to continue for some time.
Local companyLocal company
Trafigura first attempted to discharge the chemical slops from one of its tankers, the Probo Koala, in the Dutch port of Amsterdam in early August 2006.Trafigura first attempted to discharge the chemical slops from one of its tankers, the Probo Koala, in the Dutch port of Amsterdam in early August 2006.
But the company that was to dispose of the waste suddenly increased its charges dramatically - asking for more to treat the waste. Trafigura refused, and the tanker proceeded to Nigeria.But the company that was to dispose of the waste suddenly increased its charges dramatically - asking for more to treat the waste. Trafigura refused, and the tanker proceeded to Nigeria.
There it failed to reach an agreement with two local firms about offloading the waste and only in Ivory Coast did it find a company to handle the waste.There it failed to reach an agreement with two local firms about offloading the waste and only in Ivory Coast did it find a company to handle the waste.
On 19 August the waste was discharged near Abidjan. Two weeks later the first complaints arose. Instead of being incinerated as it should have been, the waste had been dumped.On 19 August the waste was discharged near Abidjan. Two weeks later the first complaints arose. Instead of being incinerated as it should have been, the waste had been dumped.
Trafigura said it had been given to a local accredited company in Abidjan's main port to deal with properly.Trafigura said it had been given to a local accredited company in Abidjan's main port to deal with properly.