"Before the spill, we lived well. Now they are destroying us. They want to kill us.", Jacob Espinar, an achuar community President
By Lorena Mendoza
The Achuar Indigenous Federation of the Upper Pastaza (FIAAP), a base organization of the Federation of the Achuar Nationality of Peru (FENAP), has issued an alert regarding the death of Esmi Butuna Zúñiga, a 10-year-old girl who suffered from a severe health condition consistent with heavy metal poisoning. Her symptoms appeared following an oil spill that occurred in the Pastaza River (Loreto) in October 2024, in Indigenous territory.
Esmi Butuna Zúñiga died on April 8th around 2:00 p.m. (GMT-5) while being transported by river from the Native Community of Siwin to the Level I-4 Health Center in San Lorenzo (Datem del Marañón, Loreto). According to FIAAP President Jacob Espinar, Esmi’s death adds to a growing and alarming toll of 11 confirmed deaths — six children and five adults — following the crude oil spill from Block 192 into the Pastaza River. Like other children in the community, Esmi showed symptoms consistent with heavy metal poisoning. FIAAP has been documenting this public health emergency through its community-led monitoring system, collecting photographic evidence of the wounds and visible symptoms affecting children in the area. The images show lesions and other physical conditions that align with signs of toxic exposure to heavy metals.
The President of FIAAP denounced the serious negligence of health authorities in Loreto, pointing out that local health posts lack both medical personnel and basic equipment to respond to emergencies like the one that claimed Esmi’s life. He also reiterated the urgent need for safe water sources for the communities affected by the spill.
In response, FIAAP and FENAP have sent letters and requested meetings with the Ministry of Health and relevant environmental authorities to demand remediation, rehabilitation, and immediate healthcare services for the communities and territories affected by the oil spill — as highlighted in this statement shared by the Wampís Nation: (VER AQUÍ)
PetroPerú, the national oil company that operates the Norperuvian Oil Pipeline (ONP), continues to neglect its obligations for environmental remediation and rehabilitation in the affected areas, failing to implement effective action or include the participation of local communities. This pattern of irresponsibility — already evident in previous oil spills along the ONP — is repeating itself once again. Despite this, the state-owned company is now attempting to begin operations in Block 64 without having provided any form of reparation and without the free, prior, and informed consent of the Achuar Nation.
Since early 2025, multiple alerts have been issued regarding the chronic lack of medical personnel, supplies, and minimum conditions needed to respond to emergencies in the health centers of communities across Datem del Marañón and Alto Amazonas (Loreto) . In earlier statements, we denounced the deaths of other children in Kandozi and Chapra communities, also located in Loreto. Yet despite these repeated warnings, the structural deficiencies in the public health system remain unresolved, and essential medical supplies and technical support have not reached the affected territories.
At the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance, we renew our urgent call to the Regional Health Directorate of Loreto, the Datem del Marañón Health Network, and the Ministry of Health (MINSA) to immediately respond to the public health emergency facing Indigenous peoples in the Pastaza watershed, such as the Achuar Nation. We demand immediate access to safe water and emergency medical care. It is unacceptable that the fundamental rights to life and health of Indigenous children continue to be violated.