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Image: courtesy Expreso
The 100 darkest days
PERU
Sunday, April 24, 2022, 04:50 (GMT + 9)
April 25 will be the 100th day of the worst ecological disaster produced in the Peruvian sea, as a result of the spill of more than 11,000 barrels of oil, which impacted almost 2 million square meters of land and 7 million square meters of sea (although Repsol initially informed the Environmental Assessment and Enforcement Agency – OEFA, that it was only 0.16 barrels). This incident damaged the space where the National Reserve System of Islands, Islets and Points and the Ancón Reserved Zone converge.
Since then there have been three presidents of the Council of Ministers (perhaps the fourth will come soon); three holders of the Environment and paraded three presidents of the OEFA. Thousands of fishermen and others affected continue to experience a drama that has shattered their hopes and dreams. In such a scenario, we could not be surprised to see the president himself, a vice president, a president of the Council of Ministers and high authorities, approaching the scene trying to politically capitalize on the event, offering bonuses, distributing bags and other palliatives. A few days later, devoured by their own inconsistencies, all the figuretis forgot the problem, while the victims sink in their misfortune and the country does not learn the lessons of their hours of misfortune.
According to Andina newspaper, Repsol reported to the authorities the completion of the first response cleanup actions on 28 beaches contaminated by the spill. However, they admit that "...we maintain constant aerial monitoring with helicopters and drones to assist possible new affected areas and generate the necessary contingency actions to stop and solve." Specialists and seamen who know the area and have worked in it for decades do not believe that we are even remotely close to the end of this dramatic story.
The company affirms that 4,500 people collected advance compensation, delivered 8,500 emergency vouchers for 500 soles each and registered 5,500 injured people, including fishermen and residents. However, citizens of Pachacutec and Callao point out that they have been unjustly marginalized, despite the fact that the oil company insists that its commitment is to support all the people who are suffering the consequences of the spill, until the beaches and the sea become suitable for the development of its various productive activities. To do this, however, it requires that they "voluntarily" sign individual acts to receive compensation of 3,000 soles, which many refused until they had a comprehensive commitment to reparations.
Veterinary specialist Valeria Ruoppolo from the Aiuká consulting firm stated that 65 rescued and rehabilitated birds were released. What she didn't comment on is what happened to the few endangered sea otters (Lontra felina) that might be gone forever. The total number of dead or irreversibly damaged fish, birds and mammals is also unknown.
Juan Chulles Espinoza, Secretary of Defense of the Regional Association of Artisanal and Related Fishermen of Callao (ARUPACC), declared that “the true artisanal fishermen of Callao are being marginalized, we are not being considered in the register of those affected. The area of La Pampilla is the space where we work and now everything has been contaminated. We have sent a letter to the Refinery requesting that they attend to us, but they have not responded to us until today.”
100 days have passed. In the midst of the summer sun that has passed, our sea and coastal communities are experiencing their darkest moments. Everything would be better if there was a government to lead the solution. For this, obviously, we do not need to change the Constitution.
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