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"Pollution Concern"
I am so happy to learn that this year (2003) is declared to be an international year of fresh water. Being one of the victims of polluted water and air; at the same time; I feel helpless and in despair when I think of myself, my whole family and for the 100,000 voiceless residents of Wonji, Wonji/shoa and Metehara. Thousands of children and adults are at risk by drinking the poisonous water in these industrial communities.

Even though famine and HIV/AIDS are the priority concerns nowadays in Ethiopia, there is a silent killer that is industrial pollution which has affected and is still affecting thousands of residents who live in Wonji, Wonji/Shoa, and Metehara sugar factories. 

In the 1950s, HVA started to pioneer the sugar industry in Ethiopia. Wonji, Wonji/Shoa and Metahara sugar factories were established in 1954, 1960 and 1968, respectively.

There are three major departments in sugar factory manufacturing, a) mill house, b) process house, c) boiler house. Each produces different types of waste in the air and all are responsible for the emission of harmful gases into the air. There is also a pungent smell from the mill house. Molasses is poured on the streets in Wonji, Wonji/Shoa, and Metehara, which produces an odd smell, flies around the town and is sticky when we walk on it. Wouldn't it be nice if HVA had asphalt paving instead? 

These three communities were exposed to toxins emitted from the factory, and they are less informed about them. These communities were vulnerable because they were perceived as weak and passive citizens who would not fight back against the poisoning of their environment in fear that it may jeopardize their jobs and economical survival. 

Around 1967 I came to Wonji as a kid. I grew up in Wonji, and my two children were born and raised in Wonji until the age of 6 & 7. At that time in Wonji the drinking water had excess fluoride, the air was polluted from the smoke and dust, which was coming out of the factory, and most of the houses were built from asbestos. As we know human health is closely tied to environmental conditions. In Wonji, Wonji/Shoa, and Metehara the quality of air, water, has risked the health of many families including my family and myself. When I was a kid, there were Dutch citizens who were the top representatives and employees for HVA. The rest in the bottom of the pyramid were all Ethiopians.

At that time the Dutch were living in a secluded area called "Shebo Gibi," which means, "wired area." No, Ethiopian was allowed to go to that area unless he or she had a pass, or was working as a baby sitter, kitchen maid, or a garden boy. The Dutch also had their own club, swimming pool, tennis court, hospital, and school. They were drinking bottled water, because they knew that the drinking water at the time was not pure and had excess of fluoride. But they let us use the well water which was contaminated and with excess fluoride. The Dutch withheld information from us and took our rights away from having a healthy environment.

Reports of chronic fluoride toxicity indicate that it causes weight loss, dental skeletal changes, indicators of carcinogenesis, hypocalcemia (low blood calcium), hyperkalemia (excess blood potassium) which will affect the spine, cerebral impairment, and damage of soft tissues. Excess fluoride consumption also leads to cancer, osteoporosis, neurological, cerbrovascular effects, and other physical ailments.

The Dutch were using the Awash River for irrigation, which runs, in our area, and this resulted in many deaths from drowning and amoeba infection. If the Dutch had fenced this irrigation project instead of their home, they would have saved many lives. However, it is too late for me and my family who are totally exposed to the pollution. Nevertheless I believe we have to help the present generation and the coming generations.

I now suffer from asthma because of the air pollution at that time. My teeth are decayed and I have knee and other joint problems because of the excess fluoride in the water. My parents had knee joint problems and they passed away recently. My kids are suffering from teeth decay, cavities and staining. Recently I visited Ethiopia and I found out that many people whom I know were sick from various diseases caused by air and water pollution. Some of my father's friends are sick and bed ridden because of the skeletal fluorosis. Many young beautiful girls of these communities hide their mouth with their hand when they smile to hide their heavily stained teeth, and those who have money replace their front teeth with artificial teeth. The sad thing is nobody knows whom to blame, or where to seek help. 

1) The exhaust fumes get so thick that they would form a sort of fog around the community I was living in. Dust, gases and smoke had affected many people. They are having lungs and respiratory tract problems, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular diseases and cancer of the lungs. 

2) Drinking water was heavily polluted by the hazardous wastes generated from the discharge by the factory, and excess of fluoride

3) The noise pollution was also very prominent due to the power looms situated in the community. 

4) HVA also neglected the defluoridation of the drinking water. HVA withheld information about the excess fluoride in the drinking water from the Ethiopian workers. HVA violated the human rights of Ethiopian workers in those three communities. Excess fluoride in a drinking water causes dental and skeletal fluorosis. Normally fluoride should not exceed 4.0 milligram per litter. I wonder to what level of fluoride my family and I were exposed.  Fluoride has been banned in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Austria, France, and The Netherlands. 

5) Asbestos was widely used for ceiling panels, pipe insulation, well insulation, cement pipe and sealant. No doubt my family and I are exposed to asbestos fibre concentration. As we know asbestos is extremely aerodynamic and it may affect someone resulting in cancer, shortness of breath, and pain in the lower back. Even after 1970 when asbestos use was curtailed by scientists, HVA did not take action to prevent the community.

6) Heavy vehicles that carry sugarcane to the factory passing through the residential area caused a lot of dust and resulted many in deaths of people due to accidents. 

Discrimination in health care is a violation of internationally declared human rights and defies the very fabric of freedom and justice. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights states in articles 2, 3, and 25 declares that everyone has the right to all freedoms including health and security without discrimination of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Wonji, Shoa, and Methara were segregated Ethiopian communities in which outsiders had full control. Since the Dutch are white, it's the all-Negro section that was a segregated community. When you're under someone else's control, you're segregated. The Dutch were always treating us as the lowest and offering the worst to Wonji, Wonji/Shoa and Metehara communities.

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." This means that you and me have the same human rights as everyone else in the world, because we are human beings. These rights are inalienable, they cannot be taken away from you. Every individual, no matter who they are or where they live, should be treated with dignity.

Article 2: "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind." Article 13: "Everyone has the right to freedom of movement."

My father used to warn me not to go to Shebo Gibi because it is a white residential area, and I asked him why? His answer was we are black, they are whites who run these three sugar factories. It is morally wrong that these communities had to face the burden of factory pollution, and it hits the poorest hard. Why in my country? 

I want a response from HVA why this has happened to me, my family and all residents that are exposed to the pollution?   I wish my voice would be heard and that I see some changes on this issue.

HVA was run by the Dutch and their main office is located in The Netherlands. I sent emails months ago to HVA regarding this pollution in Wonji/Wonji-Shoa and Metehara, but they didn't respond. I hold HVA accountable to clean up the mess that it has left behind. 

Ethiopia has no budget to eradicate this pollution right now while facing famine and the AIDS crisis. There is not enough environmental and health pollutants data collected in these communities. I know this much, many children are dying from this pollution, and it is a human violation of these residents. HVA had violated the following AU articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 16, 20, 24, 27, and 28. We do have enough evidence such as videos and can submit written or oral representations. According to article 60 and 61 we deserve international justices. 

I will be happy to receive any email, help from agencies, or posting this article in newspapers to make the world hear my voice, bring HVA (the human rights abuser) to justice, and end pollution in these three communities. 

Thanks,

Almaz Mequanint