Toxic residues causing disease in West Kordofan: MPs

Parliamentarians from Sudan’s West Kordofan complain that industrial chemicals and petroleum residues are causing disease and suffering among children and pregnant women in the state.

They revealed to Radio Dabanga that some foreign companies operating in the state are compensating the effected people without the knowledge of the government. They called on the Oil Ministry to hold those companies accountable for their corporate responsibility.

Residents of the region say that “the oil companies aren't concerned with the safety and health of people and animals of the area.

They say that that the companies’ policy is to forcibly displace people from oil-producing areas of the region. The companies also “cheat in the individual compensation”. Callers stress that no collective compensation in the form of establishments of health, education or water services have ever been provided.

Environmental expert, Dr Hassan Mohammed Hamad, has confirmed the terrible deterioration in the state, with environmental pollution of air and soil.

He says that six months ago, civil society organisations in the state raised a memorandum to the Presidency, the Parliament and state Government confirming the extensive damage caused by oil residues and operations in the area, this besides providing statistics about the number of deaths due to cancer and other diseases without finding any response from the concerned authorities.

Oil Minister, Mohammad Zayed Awad, has acknowledged the negative effects of oil on the states.

He has vowed to conduct medical check-up for any person affected by oil companies, and called on the public to file a formal complaint to the Ministry.