Peru: Water contamination (rivers Chambira and Hormiga) by the Argentinean oil company Pluspetrol S.A in the area of the indigenous communities of the Urarinas district

The right to food of 75 families of the indigenous communities of Pijuayal, Santa Carmela, Nueva Porvenir and San Pedro is being violated by the contamination of the rivers Hormiga and Chambira (in  the north of the Urarinas district) through the dumping of oil waste residues. Their food sources are based on fishery, hunting and growing crops for their subsistence. Therefore, the nutritional habits of these communities depend on the waters of the Hormiga and Chambira rivers. The water contamination also affects the drinking water supply of the families. The Argentinean oil company Pluspetrol Norte S.A refuses to admit that company activities are taking place within the borders of the indigenous communities´ territory,  and that the waters of both rivers are being contaminated, destroying the main food sources  of those communities.  

Regarding this serious situation, it is very important to put pressure on Peruvian authorities so that they will undertake measures to protect the right to food of these communities as well as their right to clean water and to cultivate their staple food free from oil waste residues.  Please send a letter to the mayor of the district of Urarinas and send copies to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Peru, the director of Pluspetrol Norte S.A. and to the organisation CEDIA (Centro para el Desarrollo del Indígena Amazónico), which is supporting the action.