NEWS in brief
Around Africa
Kenya
Residents Suffer Liver , Stomach Diseases after Oil Spill in Thange River
A report on the impact of oil that spilled into the Thange River basin in Kibwezi East constituency last year has linked cases of liver and stomach diseases among residents to
EnvironServ ( K ) Ltd workers on site . The petroleum poisoning . company was contracted by Kenya Pipeline
The report states that
Company to clean up the Thange River in results of tests done
Kibwezi East constituency following an oil on 161 patients out spill . Photo courtesy Daily Nation of 1,071 in February this year showed they contracted diseases caused by benzene and toluene poisoning . The two elements are found in oil . The report , seen by the Nation , was done by Panafcon Consultants , a Nairobi-based economic and social impact assessment firm that was contracted by Kenya Pipeline Company ( KPC ).
In one case , a 95-year-old male who resides in Thange village complained of difficulties in breathing and general body weakness during the survey .
He underwent liver function tests and results showed “ features of benzene / toluene poisoning .”
In another case reported by the company , a 47-year-old woman from Mbulutini village is said to have white blood cells abnormalities , which can be caused by benzene / toluene .
According the report , it will cost KPC over Sh200 million to compensate the affected 1,071 residents following the pollution of the river and its environs for 18 months after the spillage .
The report recommends Sh153 million be used to compensate the effected residents for medical expenses and each of the 161 people be granted Sh500,000 . According to the report , the remaining 950 residents should be given Sh80,000 compensation and another Sh41 million for loss of livestock and crops .
The report recommends further assessment to be carried out in the area since “ human and livestock medical results at the study boundary are positive for exposure and much wider area may have been affected by petroleum products after the spillage .”
Residents discovered traces of oil in shallow wells in the river bed , before they notified KPC . The company repaired a section of the Mombasa-Nairobi pipeline that was causing the spillage .
Recently , KPC distributed maize , beans , and rice to three schools and 800 residents from the affected villages . This was part of a relief food program by the company to cushion the affected residents who have been unable to do farming .
“ Besides the food aid , KPC has also recently gave Sh1 million to pay school and college fees for the needy in the village ,” said KPC spokesman Janson Nyantino during the food distribution exercise .
Mozambique
Mission visits dam rehabilitation project expected to provide water to 17,000 people in Mozambique
On August 3 , 2016 , the African Development Bank ’ s Resident Representative in Mozambique , Joseph Ribeiro , and various members of the diplomatic community visited the Massingir Dam project in Gaza province , in the country ’ s southern region . The visit sought to illustrate developments work being jointly undertaken by the Bank and the Government of Mozambique .
The mission included Frank E . Viyazhi , High Commissioner of Malawi ; and Olebile M . Gaborone , High Commissioner of Botswana ; Marcia de Castro , UN Resident Coordinator ; and Bettina Maas , UNFPA Country Manager . The members described the trip as an eye-opening experience , which enabled them to link the size of the dam , which is the second largest in Mozambique , with the expected economic impact on the ground .
Africa Water , Sanitation & Hygiene • September - October 2016 3