As Congo seeks to expand drilling, some communities worry pollution will worsen
Associated Press
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Annie Kopacitino holds her daughter, who she says has been affected by the pollution caused by oil drilling, in her village of Tshiende, Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The country is looking to expand the oil drilling. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)A man walks past a barren tree in his village of Kinkazi, which has been affected by oil drilling, outside Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. The country is looking to expand the oil drilling. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)A boy swims in a river near areas affected by oil drilling, in the village of Kinkazi, outside Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)People collect water from a community pump in their village of Tshiende, which is affected by oil drilling, in Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)A mother braids her daughter's hair in Kimpozia village, one of the areas auctioned for oil drilling, in Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. Its government is auctioning off 30 oil and gas blocks around the country. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)People inspect an avocado tree which they say has dried out due to the pollution caused by oil drilling near their village of Tshiende, Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)A burning flare is visible at an oil extraction area located in Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)Girls walk past oil pipes on their way home to their village of Kinkazi, which has been affected by oil drilling, outside Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)Pipes extend from an oil drilling structure near the village of Kinkazi, outside Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)Polluted water can be seen in a river on the outskirts of Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)A fisherman casts his net in a lake polluted by oil on the outskirts of Moanda, western Democratic Republic of Congo, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)Adore Ngaka inspects his crops which he says have been damaged due to pollution caused by oil drilling near his village of Tshiende, Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)Children sit inside a fishing boat outside a mangrove in Kimpozia village, one of the areas auctioned for oil drilling, in Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. Its government is auctioning off 30 oil and gas blocks around the country. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)Louis Wolombassa, the chief of Kimpozia village, one of the areas auctioned for oil drilling, poses for a portrait near a mangrove where they rely on fishing, near Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)A view of Kimpozia village, one of the areas auctioned for oil drilling, in Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. Its government is auctioning off 30 oil and gas blocks around the country.(AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)An oil drilling structure operates near the village of Kinkazi, outside Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. The country is looking to expand the oil drilling. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)A burning flare is visible at an oil extraction area located in Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)A boy looks into a church as a woman walks home during Christmas mass in the village of Kimbanza, in Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)Children attend Christmas mass in a church in their village of Kimbanza, in Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)A woman stands outside her home in her village of Tshiende, which has been impacted by the pollution caused by oil drilling, in Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)A family bakes bread in their village of Kinkazi, which has been impacted by oil drilling, outside Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)A man displays a photo he says shows toxic chemicals spilled due to oil drilling, in the village of Kinkazi, outside Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
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Annie Kopacitino holds her daughter, who she says has been affected by the pollution caused by oil drilling, in her village of Tshiende, Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The country is looking to expand the oil drilling. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
