Mining companies should 'fund famine relief'
The Australian non-government organisation AID/WATCH is calling on Australian companies and multinationals operating in Papua New Guinea to commit a percentage of their profits to drought-ravaged areas.
In PNG, 80 people have already died as a result of the drought. In West Papua, no official figures have been released, but about 150 people are thought to have died.
"Companies like Rio Tinto and BHP have made enormous profits out of the people and resources of this island. They have a responsibility to financially back the drought relief effort. If there is not a quick injection of funds, more people will die", said AID/WATCH director Lee Rhiannon.
Rio Tinto's Freeport copper mine in West Papua makes $1 million profit per day. BHP's annual profit last year was $1.26 billion, much of this wealth coming from the Ok Tedi copper mine in PNG.
The PNG National Disaster Committee has reported that drought-ravaged regions of PNG have appealed for about $300 million in immediate aid, but the harsh weather conditions causing the famine are expected to continue until 1998.
"Aid agencies are increasing their funding because of the current life-threatening situation. It is time businesses contributed financially. While BHP's assistance to the people of the Ok Tedi region is welcome, they should also donate directly to the drought appeal", Rhiannon said.