From: barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us (Mr Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS: SOMALIA: OAU CONCERNED OVER TOXIC WASTE DUMPING
Originator: barnhart@gagme
Organization: Evanston, Illinois
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 01:22:38 GMT

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: Environment; Africa, general; Europe, western
Title: SOMALIA: OAU CONCERNED OVER TOXIC WASTE DUMPING


dar es salaam, sep 24 (ips) -- the organisation of african unity
(oau) thursday reacted sharply to the dumping of toxic waste in
war-torn somalia by italian and swiss companies.

in a strongly-worded statement made available to ips here
thursday, the oau condemned the act as ''inhuman'', and called
the international community to do likewise.

the dumping of the toxic waste jeopardised the well-being,
health and security of the people of africa.

''those responsible exhibit their contempt for the helpless
victims of the protracted civil war in somalia'', added the
statement.

''the oau categorically condemns all such acts which
seriously violate african and international conventions
governing the trans-boundary movement and dumping of hazardous
wastes''.

italian and swiss firms are reported to have signed a
contract with the self-styled interim government of president
ali mahdi mohamed outlines plans to build an incinerator near
the capital, mogadishu, to store and burn 500,000 tonnes of
waste a year.

the contract, signed by acher partners and ali mahdi's health
minister nur elmy osman, details how the waste would then be
dumped in a landfill with a capacity of 10 million tonnes.

''the act seriously thwarts the interest of an african nation
in the throes of a civil war'', the oau said.

''the oau wishes to appeal to the developed countries to apply
strict measures against them so as to forestall any further
dumping of toxic waste in somalia and to punish the crime already
committed'', the statement added.

the oau called on the warring factions in somalia to take the
necessary steps to prohibit the dumping of hazardous wastes in
the areas under their control.

''we would like the factions to work toward the search for a
peaceful solution to the conflict and strive for national
reconciliation and unity so that such companies do not take
advantage of the situation prevailing now to dump toxic waste in
the country'', the statement said.

the dumping of the waste further constituted a challenge to
most legitimate demands of the international community enshrined
in the recent conclusions of the rio conference on the
environment and sustainable development, the statement said.
(more/ips)


somalia: oau (2)

the current phase of the contract is believed to be in the
order of 80 million dollars and shipments, each between 100,000
and 150,000 tonnes, were to have earned ali mahdi's regime
between eight and 10 million dollars each.

the u.n. environment programme (unep) says although it has no
firm evidence of the shipments, but it had heard of about waste
consigments having already been dumped along the somali
coast, and 80,000 tonnes in mogadishu.

two weeks ago, the nairobi, kenya-based unep said it was
sending an urgent mission to somalia to probe reports of the
dumping. (end/ips/pc/apc/92)