Amnesty raises death toll at Bhopal disaster in new report

29 November 2004 10:11  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (CNI)--Amnesty International has said in a new report that more than 7000 people died within days after the deadly Bhopal gas leak disaster in India in 1984, and a large proportion of the compensation claims by victims and their  families had been rejected by the government. 

The latest death toll was higher than the initially reported number of about 4000 people.

Twenty years ago, around half a million people were exposed to toxic chemicals from a gas leak at an Union Carbide Corp (UCC) pesticide plant in Bhopal.

In addition to the initial high casualty count, another 15 000 died in the following years, Amnesty said. Around 100 000 people are suffering chronic and debilitating illnesses for which treatment is largely ineffective.

Amnesty said that after 20 years, survivors are still waiting for compensation, adequate medical assistance and treatment, and economic and social rehabilitation. It added that the contamination at the plant site continues to pollute the water supply and environment.

Dow Chemicals, which took over UCC in 2001, and UCC have denied any responsibility for the leak and its consequences or for the pollution from the plant, Amnesty said. UCC refused to appear before the court in Bhopal to face trial and the Indian government agreed to a final settlement which has left survivors living in penury.

The settlement, endorsed by the Indian Supreme Court in 1989, involved UCC paying $470m, which had not been distributed in full to the victims even after more than 10 years.

Amnesty said that the first aim of the report is to expose the failure of UCC, Dow and the Indian government to comply with their obligations to prevent the gas leak and address its consequences, and to prevent and stop the continuing pollution of the environment and water.

The second aim is to demonstrate the need to establish a universal human rights framework, which can be applied to companies directly.

In addition to the report, Amnesty has started a letter campaign to Andrew Liveris. president and chief executive officer of Dow.

By: Edgar Ang
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