Concern over humanitarian and environmental damage

The authorities in Djibouti have expressed serious concern over the humanitarian and environmental impact of a toxic leak which occurred in the port of Djibouti earlier this year. According to a report by the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), five sites at the port have been contaminated and a number of people are undergoing treatment in Djibouti hospitals. In addition, some domestic animals which entered the sites have died. The leakage of the highly toxic and corrosive substance known as chromated copper arsenate (CCA)occurred in January. The chemical - which is used for preserving wood - was stored in 10 containers which had arrived from Britain, destined for the Ethiopian Power Corporation. When the leak first occurred, the area was not isolated and port operations continued, the OCHA report said. At the request of the national authorities, OCHA arranged for a UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC) to go to Djibouti. The four-member team is assessing the humanitarian and environmental consequences of the accident, and an expert ecotoxicologist from Switzerland is also flying out to Djibouti. After a first phase clean-up which consisted of isolating the contaminated areas and equipment, the second phase may involve isolating the toxic material itself and treating the contaminated soil, OCHA said. "International assistance is required because of the lack of expertise and the absence of the necessary financial resources," it stressed. [See also IRIN story of 6 March headlined "Djibouti: UN team arrives to assess environmental damage" at http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=23876]