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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Firm agrees Ivorian waste payouts | Firm agrees Ivorian waste payouts |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| An oil trading firm has agreed to pay more than $46m (£28m) 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 $46m (£28m) compensation to people in Ivory Coast who say they were made ill by dumped waste in 2006. |
| Trafigura, with offices in London, Amsterdam and Geneva, said 30,000 people will each receive $1,546 (£950). | Trafigura, with offices in London, Amsterdam and Geneva, said 30,000 people will each receive $1,546 (£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 plaintiffs' lawyers agreed that a link between the dumped waste and deaths had not been proved. | Trafigura and the plaintiffs' 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 symptoms. | |
| 'Vindicated' | |
| A victims' spokesman has criticised the agreement, saying the compensation was insufficient. | |
| 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 | |
| "The cost of medication spent over three years goes much beyond that amount," Toxic Waste Victims' Association head Ouattara Aboubabacar told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. | |
| He believes the suffering may be continuing today. | |
| Trafigura said it had been completely vindicated by the agreement. | |
| However, the company still faces legal action in the Netherlands over the case. | |
| The chemical waste was generated by Trafigura and transported to Ivory Coast on a ship called Probo Koala. | The chemical waste was generated by Trafigura and 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. |
| UN report | |
| On Wednesday a United Nations report suggested a strong link between at least 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. |