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Firm agrees Ivorian waste payouts | Firm agrees Ivorian waste payouts |
(8 minutes later) | |
An oil trading firm has agreed to pay more than $45m (£27m) compensation to people in Ivory Coast who say they were made ill by dumped waste in 2006. | An oil trading firm has agreed to pay more than $45m (£27m) compensation to people in Ivory Coast who say they were made ill by dumped waste in 2006. |
The international commodities trader Trafigura said 30,000 people will each receive $1,500 (£950). | |
The money is in addition to the nearly $200m that the company paid the Ivorian government in 2007. | The money is in addition to the nearly $200m that the company paid the Ivorian government in 2007. |
Trafigura and the plaintiff's lawyers agreed that a link between the dumped waste and deaths had not been proved. | Trafigura and the plaintiff's lawyers agreed that a link between the dumped waste and deaths had not been proved. |
A joint statement by the company and the British lawyers representing the Ivorians, Leigh Day and Co, said at worst the waste had caused flu-like symptons. | A joint statement by the company and the British lawyers representing the Ivorians, Leigh Day and Co, said at worst the waste had caused flu-like symptons. |
UN report | UN report |
The chemical waste had been generated by Trafigura, which has bases in London, Amsterdam and Geneva. | The chemical waste had been generated by Trafigura, which has bases in London, Amsterdam and Geneva. |
It was transported to Ivory Coast on a ship called Probo Koala. | It was transported to Ivory Coast on a ship called Probo Koala. |
In August 2006 truckload after truckload of it was dumped at 15 locations around Abidjan, the biggest city in Ivory Coast. | In August 2006 truckload after truckload of it was dumped at 15 locations around Abidjan, the biggest city in Ivory Coast. |
In the weeks that followed the dumping, tens of thousands of people reported a range of similar symptoms, including breathing problems, sickness and diarrhoea. | In the weeks that followed the dumping, tens of thousands of people reported a range of similar symptoms, including breathing problems, sickness and diarrhoea. |
SETTLEMENT STATEMENT Agreed Final Joint StatementSource: Trafigura [55.5 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | SETTLEMENT STATEMENT Agreed Final Joint StatementSource: Trafigura [55.5 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
On Wednesday a United Nations report suggested a strong link between 15 deaths and toxic waste dumps. | On Wednesday a United Nations report suggested a strong link between 15 deaths and toxic waste dumps. |
The report said there is "strong prima facie evidence that the reported deaths and adverse health consequences are related to the dumping of the waste from the cargo ship". | The report said there is "strong prima facie evidence that the reported deaths and adverse health consequences are related to the dumping of the waste from the cargo ship". |
Trafigura criticised the UN report as premature and inaccurate, saying: "We are appalled at the basic lack of balance and analytical rigour reflected in the report." | Trafigura criticised the UN report as premature and inaccurate, saying: "We are appalled at the basic lack of balance and analytical rigour reflected in the report." |
Trafigura has always insisted it was not responsible for the dumping of the waste, as this was carried out by a subcontractor. | Trafigura has always insisted it was not responsible for the dumping of the waste, as this was carried out by a subcontractor. |
It also denies that the waste - gasoline residues mixed with caustic washings - could have led to the serious illnesses the residents claim, which include skin burns, bleeding and breathing problems. | It also denies that the waste - gasoline residues mixed with caustic washings - could have led to the serious illnesses the residents claim, which include skin burns, bleeding and breathing problems. |
In 2007 it paid nearly $200m to the Ivorian government to "compensate the victims" among other things. | In 2007 it paid nearly $200m to the Ivorian government to "compensate the victims" among other things. |
The government-administered fund paid compensation to the families of 16 people whose deaths they believed were caused by the waste. | The government-administered fund paid compensation to the families of 16 people whose deaths they believed were caused by the waste. |