the toxic truth - Greenpeace

the toxic truth
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs noted that: “The sites of Akouédo 1
and 2, Abobo Veneers and MACA have been
treated. Despite the end of works on certain
sites, odours persist forcing local residents to
flee.” 276
In the period after the dumping, the Ivorian
state hired 30 psychologists to help people
cope with the trauma. 277 The government also
launched a campaign to raise public awareness
about the dumping and the health risks,
with the stated aim of providing information
for affected communities living near the
dumpsites. 278 This included announcements
in the media, a dedicated website, free
telephone numbers and field visits to affected
communities. 279 The government advice
warned people to be vigilant about their
children’s health, and said that no one should
approach or handle the waste, and children
should not play near it. The advice encouraged
people to go to hospital or consult a doctor if
they experienced any symptoms. 280
A number of NGOs involved in the emergency
response also participated in the effort to
inform the population. For example, the Red
Cross Society of Côte d’Ivoire sent volunteers
to affected areas to disseminate information
on measures to be taken in case people came
into contact with the waste, and to make them
aware of the health risks and how to protect
themselves. 281
However, as the public health crisis deepened,
there were repeated demands by people
in Abidjan for more information. 282 Victims
to whom Amnesty International spoke
later said they had little or no response
from government authorities when they
requested further information about possible
environmental and health impacts and how
these were being assessed. 283
Government efforts to inform and reassure the
population of Abidjan were also hampered by
a lack of information on the exact composition
of the waste or the likely medium- to longterm
health implications of exposure. Various
assessments of the emergency response
have noted that the psychological impact was
exacerbated by the fact that people did not
know what the waste consisted of, and what
risks it posed for them. 284 For example, a group
of psychologists who volunteered during the
medical emergency between September and
November 2006, and who treated almost
2,000 people, reported that people’s anxiety
had been heightened by “rumours of side
effects of toxic waste such as infertility…
miscarriages, malformation, and generalized
cancer.” 285 A number of psychological problems
were recorded, including insomnia, lack of
concentration and asthenia (weakness, loss of
strength), as well as depression, post-traumatic
stress disorder and generalized anxiety. 286
Displacement
As a result of the dumping, many people fled
their homes and workplaces. The authorities
recorded population displacements, including
large movements of populations in the zones
very close to dumping sites, such as Akouédo,
the Lauriers 8 and 9, and Genie 2000
districts. 287
The Centre Suisse de Recherches
Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire conducted a
survey of 809 households living in areas
close to the dumping sites. Out of a total of
501 households affected by the toxic waste,
453 households answered the question
related to relocation. The survey found that
114 households had to move away from their
homes. Most of the households that had
to relocate were based in Akouédo (45 per
cent); 27 per cent of those who relocated
left their neighbourhood but stayed in the
surrounding area; 40.5 per cent left their
area of residence; and 28.8 per cent left the
city. 288 No follow-up data on the situation of
people displaced by the effects of the waste is
available.
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Chapter 5