Three weeks after the first oil spill on the Ventanilla coast and the lack of a clear response from Repsol, the support of citizens and the business sector for the #RecuperoMiMar campaign is bearing its first fruits in the purchase of essential equipment to help the staff of the National Service of Natural Protected Areas (SERNANP) and the National Forest and Wildlife Service (SERFOR) contain the effects of the spill, ensure the cleanup of the beaches, and safeguard wildlife.
To efficiently utilize the funds raised so far, Profonanpe is addressing the requirements that are considered priority. Thus, in order to protect SERNANP personnel and volunteers participating in the cleanup operations in response to the emergency, safety equipment and supplies have been acquired to allow them to work in an area highly impacted by the oil spill and under extreme environmental conditions, as high temperatures are currently present on the coast.
Therefore, the initial response has been the acquisition of personal protective equipment, such as hydrocarbon-resistant footwear and gloves, to protect their bodies from injury and exposure to the oil. Respirators and masks have also been purchased to protect them from the volatile components of the oil that winds, waves, and currents disperse along the coast. Similarly, everyday supplies have been acquired for organizing and distributing materials. Furthermore, cooling equipment and refrigerant gel have been purchased to preserve samples of affected species for later analysis, while a team of veterinarians attends to the most urgent cases of wildlife impacted by the spill.
In addition, COVID-19 testing of personnel in the area has been intensified to prevent infections. Chemical hygiene facilities have also been made available to ensure minimum sanitary conditions for staff. A large portion of the operating costs have been covered by the funds raised, including the ongoing monitoring of the spill's course and impacts by a dedicated vessel.
To date, approximately 95,000 soles have been disbursed to cover basic cleaning needs. You can view the purchase details. here.
We are currently managing the purchase of a container or camper to set up an administrative office, and above all, the acquisition of skimmers and containment barriers to collect the hydrocarbon and prevent its spread.
From #RecuperoMiMar, we thank all the individuals and companies who have joined us and made this important support possible, and we invite those who wish to learn more about this initiative to visit the website: recuperomimar.com
About #RecuperoMiMar
RecuperoMiMar is a campaign launched in response to the Repsol oil spill to restore protected natural areas and the affected wildlife. The campaign is managed by Profonanpe, a private environmental fund, with support from the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law, Oceana, Conservamos por Naturaleza, WWF, EcOceánica, SOA Perú, H2O Océanos, and Lucha, and with support from the agency Fusión.
The money raised is coordinated with SERNANP and SERFOR, who provide the technical requirements for the acquisitions.
This initiative does not exempt Repsol or the responsible authorities in any way, but rather seeks to complement and expedite, from a citizen and business perspective, the activities related to this environmental emergency.
You can join this initiative at www.recuperomimar.com
