Cameroon lies on the "gold belt" of West Africa, stretching from Mali through Ghana far into the continent. The eastern part bordering with the political instable Central African Republic is considered one of the most promising regions regarding gold and diamond resources. The business remains a poorly regulated one with hardly any official figures available on extraction or trade. Modern mining methods are under-utilised and foreign investors still to be drawn to the country. In more recent years international companies - mainly from France, China and Canada have shown increasing interest. With poor regulation of the sector and government prone for corruption this development is welcomed with careful scepticism. Illegal mining, land grabbing, and unlawfully accessed licences contribute to a bad image.
Much of the gold extraction is conducted in artisanal mines. Families and villages jointly work together. Child labor is common, and numerous organizations have reported cases of parents taking their children out of school in order to support the family.
Many of the informal mines are run by middle-men buying off the minerals (gold and diamonds) at low prices. But money issues are pressing and leave little room and/ or power for negotiation. A gram of 18 karat gold - the result of often multiple days of work goes for as little 10.000 XAF (about 15 Euros)
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FR SCREENER
Hidden Waters tells the story of water in Fez, Morocco, the cultural practices surrounding it, and those who aim to save it for future generations. In the medieval medina of Fez, water was once the motor of medieval commerce and industry as well as a source of well-being and luxury for its peoples. Today, as the old hydraulic system falls into disrepair and the river running through Fez is threatened by pollution; inhabitants of the medina depend on modern water sources that become more expensive as each well dries up and each old water channel breaks down. Can Fez’s famous waters be saved?
Artisanal mining in the village of Bunduru Foro is done with rudimentary tools as tin bowls, plastic buckets, showels, and simple sieves.
The village of Burundu Foro was built in order to access the mineral rich soil close to the border with the Central African Republic.
The village of Burundu Foro was built in order to access the mineral rich soil close to the border with the Central African Republic. Many children regularly fail to attend school in order to support join their families from a very young age working in the mines. 18-year-old Pier sold a gram of gold for 10,000 XAF. He might get a better price (up to 14,000) but doesn't want to wait, he said.
Artisanal mining in the village of Burundu Foro is done with rudimentary tools as tin bowls, plastic buckets, showels, and simple sieves. Familiy members organize themselves throughout various stations of digging and washing the soil. The physically stronger male members of the community dig up the mineral rich soil in unsecured quarries dozens of meters below the surface.
Only a few minutes away of the small mining Village of Burundu Foro a Chinese Company (not wanting to be named) started a semi-industrial mine. They praise themselves for not employing children as compared to the artisanal mines in the region. Jean Pierre Ngandu, Chief of Burundu Foro meanwhile criticized their illegal acquisition of the mining ground.
According to the law about 30 percent of the revenue of exporting gold and diamonds should be paid in taxes. But even government officials operating in the mining sector confirmed that theory and praxis are poles apart.
Only a few minutes away of the small mining Village of Burundu Foro a Chinese Company (not wanting to be named) started a semi-industrial mine. They praise themselves for not employing children as compared to the artisanal mines in the region. Jean Pierre Ngandu, Chief of Burundu Foro meanwhile criticized their illegal acquisition of the mining ground.
According to the law about 30 percent of the revenue of exporting gold and diamonds should be paid in taxes. But even government officials operating in the mining sector confirmed that theory and praxis are poles apart.
Villagers from Burundu Foro washing soil dug up in a nearby quarry in a rivlet.
Artisanal mining in the village of Burundu Foro is done with rudimentary tools as tin bowls, plastic buckets, showels, and simple sieves. Familiy members organize themselves throughout various stations of digging and washing the soil.
Only a short walk away international companies have established semi-industrial mines. In Burundu Foro artisanal miners keep working with rudimentary equipment.
Burundu Foro was constructed as a mining village. The living conditions are poor. Almost half of the Cameroonian population lives under the poverty line. For artisanal miners there is not much hope to climb the ladder in the trade business of precious minerals.
The continuing outbreaks of violence in the neighboring Central African Republic has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Ten thousands are hiding in the bush close to the border with Cameroon and actively participate in artisanal mining activities - among them are many children - in order to fight starvation.
A girl carrying a tin pan in the gold mine next to the village of Bunduru Foro in eastern Cameroon. The village was built in proximity to mineral rich grounds. The entire community depends on the gold and diamond economy. They sell one gram of gold for as little as XAF 10,000 (USD 17) to middle-men, melting the fine grains into nuggets or simple jewelry and reselling with high margins. Children regularly fail to attend school in order to support their families.
The continuing outbreaks of violence in the neighboring Central African Republic has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Ten thousands are hiding in the bush close to the border with Cameroon and actively participate in artisanal mining activities - among them are many children - in order to fight starvation.
The continuing outbreaks of violence in the neighboring Central African Republic has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Ten thousands are hiding in the bush close to the border with Cameroon and actively participate in artisanal mining activities - among them are many children - in order to fight starvation.
The continuing outbreaks of violence in the neighboring Central African Republic has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Ten thousands are hiding in the bush close to the border with Cameroon and actively participate in artisanal mining activities - among them are many children - in order to fight starvation.
Artisanal mining in the east of Cameroon is done with rudimentary tools as tin bowls, plastic buckets, shovels, and simple sieves. Family members organize themselves throughout various stations of digging and washing the soil.
The continuing outbreaks of violence in the neighboring Central African Republic has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Ten thousands are hiding in the bush close to the border with Cameroon and actively participate in artisanal mining activities - among them are many children - in order to fight starvation.
Villagers of Bunduru Foro grinding dug up soil from the quarry in preparation to be washed in the rivlet.
Artisanal mining in the east of Cameroon is done with rudimentary tools as tin bowls, plastic buckets, shovels, and simple sieves. Family members organize themselves throughout various stations of digging and washing the soil.
Villagers of Bunduru Foro grinding dug up soil from the quarry in preparation to be washed in the rivlet.
Artisanal mining in the east of Cameroon is done with rudimentary tools as tin bowls, plastic buckets, shovels, and simple sieves. Family members organize themselves throughout various stations of digging and washing the soil.
A woman from the village of Bunduru Foro panning for gold. Artisanal mining in the east of Cameroon is done with rudimentary tools as tin bowls, plastic buckets, shovels, and simple sieves. Family members organize themselves throughout various stations of digging and washing for gold.
A family at the village of Bunduru Foro in eastern Cameroon. The village was built in proximity to mineral rich grounds. The entire community depends on the gold and diamond economy. They sell one gram of gold for as little as XAF 10,000 (USD 17) to middle-men, melting the fine grains into nuggets or simple jewelry and reselling with high margins. Children regularly fail to attend school in order to support their families.
The village of Burundu Foro was built in order to access the mineral rich soil close to the border with the Central African Republic. Many children regularly fail to attend school in order to support join their families from a very young age working in the mines.
A girl at Timangolo refugee camp in eastern Cameroon. The continuing outbreaks of violence in the neighboring Central African Republic has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Ten thousands are hiding in the bush close to the border with Cameroon and actively participate in artisanal mining activities - among them are many children - in order to fight starvation.
A girl at Timangolo refugee camp in eastern Cameroon. The continuing outbreaks of violence in the neighboring Central African Republic has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Ten thousands are hiding in the bush close to the border with Cameroon and actively participate in artisanal mining activities - among them many children - in order to fight starvation.
A young girl treated for malnutrition at Timangolo refugee camp in eastern Cameroon. The continuing outbreaks of violence in the neighboring Central African Republic has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Ten thousands are hiding in the bush close to the border with Cameroon and actively participate in artisanal mining activities - among them many children - in order to fight starvation.
Sintku Township, Mandalay Division, Myanmar, 2013. An active gold mine shaft at night. Miners work around the clock to meet increasing demand for domestic and international exportation.
Sintku Township, Mandalay Division, Myanmar, 2013. Wat Tay, 35, shows the pneumatic drill that he uses to break rock in the tunnels. He carries the drill, slung over his solder, as he's winched 500 feet into the mine shaft.
The gold mining village of Sintku Township, Mandalay Division, Myanmar. Gold mining is the major industry here, with over 30 mines in the area.
Sintku Township, Mandalay Division, Myanmar, 2013. Wat Tay, 35, readies himself to descend. Because of the heat and dust in the tunnels, he wears very little clothing. Around his waist is a frayed rope harness.
Sintku Township, Mandalay Division, Myanmar, 2013. Kwin Tone Sel, 42, lies in his home on the edge of the mining village. He contracted "gun disease" years ago, and has been deteriorating since. Apart from his oxygen tank, he receives no other medical attention.
Sintku Township, Mandalay Division, Myanmar, 2013. A gold miner pans crushed ore to separate gold flakes from the rest of the stone. Workers collect the residue from the machine process, panning it at home, to make a little extra profit.
Sintku Township, Mandalay Division, Myanmar, 2013. A winch control panel, with radio to communicate with the miners. As the controller hoists the workers to the requested height, the electrical contacts spark in the darkness.
Sintku Township, Mandalay Division, Myanmar, 2013. Groups of men wait above the shaft, making dynamite, lowering workers, and hauling up ore.
Sintku Township, Mandalay Division, Myanmar, 2013. The opening of one of hundreds of similar shafts.
A boy, Samuel, eats food as he sits on rocks stored in sacks by his mother ready for onward shipment to end users in the oil rich Bayelsa .
Two women in the oil rich Bayelsa State mine small rocks out moulding sand to make ends mate.
A woman's leg in the a moulding field working to earn a living and feed her wards owing to her husband jobless in the oil rich Bayelsa, Nigeria.
A woman digs into the moulding sand by the road side of Yenagoa to get small rocks for building contruction in the oil rich Bayelsa state owing to husband jobless to provide for the family.
Taggo, an iron fabricator, wears a Royal Dutch Shell T-shirt along the streets of Yenagoa in the oil rich state of Bayelsa.