Chile faces “terrifying environmental crisis”, warns UN rapporteur

Chili curbs “frightening and interconnected environmental crises” that they are violating the rights of millions of people, especially in an industrial pole known as the ‘Chilean Chernobyl’, warned a special rapporteur of the UN.

The envoy of the United Nations for human rights and the environment, David Boydmade a dramatic description of the Ventanas industrial complex, where more than 15 industrial facilities are located including oil refineries, petrochemicals, coal-fired plants, gas terminals and copper smelters.

MORE INFORMATION | Chile sends a delegation to Venezuela to “negotiate” new repatriation flights

“I smelled the toxic industry fumes at Ventanas (industrial complex) and felt them in my throat. I heard the testimony of mothers, with tears in their eyes, who were afraid to send their children to school.”holds boyd in the presentation to the press of a report on the ten-day visit that concluded this Friday.

The industrial hub is located on the Chilean central coast, in the towns of puchuncaví and Quinteros.

The people in that area “They suffer from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases”and register “elevated levels of infant mortality, unacceptable levels of cancer risk in children, and reduced life expectancy”Boyd detailed.

The rapporteur also denounced the scarcity of water suffered by many residents of rural areas and the deadly air pollution that mainly affects the capital of the country, Santiagowhere a little less than the 19 million inhabitants of the country live.

“My conversations with more than 100 people with concerns from all regions of Chili and from all sectors of society revealed flagrant violations committed for years to their right to live in a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. In many cases, these violations have lasted for decades.”said the representative of the UN.

In addition to Quintero-Puchuncaví There are Chili four other areas of high environmental contamination: Tocopilla, Mejillones and Huasco, in the north, and Coronel, in the south of the country.

CHECK HERE | Chile’s new Constitution could look a lot like the old one after Kast’s victory

Source: Elcomercio

jack

I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.