Health assessment of indigenous communities within mine-affected areas

Mining activities upstream by Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) run by Placer Niugini Limited of Canada has impacted large areas of the natural environment, the resident human and wildlife communities within the Strickland Gorge. The Government of Papua New Guinea allowed PJV to dump mine tailings into the P0rgera-Lagaip-Strickland River system which eventually ends up in the Fly River. A mystery disease developed ten years after the mine began production which causes swelling of the stomach and other parts of the body, and bleeding from the nose, mouth and ears. Consultants engaged by PJV to determine whether or not the mystery disease was related to the mining activities upstream concluded that this disease was not related to the mine. They mentioned that wildlife within Strickland Gorge may be responsible for the mystery disease. Information received by NEWG indicated that much of the concerns raised by the consultation team may have been suppressed by the company and the concluding remarks is not that of the final report. A church-run private hospital in the Enga Province, after analysing causes of ailments in a patient from Wanikipa within the Strickland Gorge revealed that he was suffering from arsenic poisoning. This pointed directly to the use of arsenic in the Porgera gold mine upstream. This project aims to work in close collaboration with the Kulini-Strickland Resource Holders Association, a local community-based organisation representing the interests of the people impacted by developments within the Strickland Gorge. The overall project goal is a fair and equal participation in decision-making processes concerning mining developments with potential for negative impacts on indigenous communities and the health of their natural environments. Specific objectives are to: * Identify social impacts of Porgera Joint Venture's mining activities in Porgera, on especially in Strickland Gorge communities who are most at risk from ongoing mineral explorations and development activities in this area. * Produce an independent health assessment of the communities and environment of the Strickland Gorge. * Ensure that affected indigenous communities resident within the Strickland Gorge are adequately compensated for damages to their health, lives and their natural environment. * Educate and raise awareness at a village level of the avenues available for enforcing their rights and safeguarding and protecting important conservation values. * Increase participation of those at a village level in resource development decisions to ensure that those impacted by a development are included in decision making. * Faciliate community directed decision making to define and protect areas that are too ecologically sensitive or biologically important for mining activities to take place, or that pose unacceptable impacts to other important areas within the Strickland Gorge.

The project has failed to reach its objectives. The main reasons are internal challenges related to management and communication within NEWG and their project partner KSRHA. The project has been closed and is considered a 'failed project'.