Peru's government has declared a state of emergency in 16 Amazon rainforest communities due to oil spills in the northeastern Loreto region.

Amazon Watch

The announcement came nearly a month after the spill was reported in Imaza district.

A second spill was reported on February 3 in Morona district. In both the areas, the population is predominately ingenious people.

Peru oil spill pollutes Amazon rivers used by indigenous group https://t.co/twenw7ftnw via @BBCNews — amnestypress (@amnestypress) February 23, 2016

Amazon Watch

The spills were on sections of the Northern Peruvian Oil Pipeline, which moves crude from the jungle over the Andes mountains to refineries through a lengthy route on the northern Peruvian coast.

Built in the 1970s, the pipeline is operated by state run PetroPeru.

BBC

Panama Post

The state of emergency will provide humanitarian help for the communities and assistance in the cleanup. The leaks have stopped the transportation of up to 6,000 barrels of oil a day.

Join us in supporting Peru's Amazonian indigenous peoples as they face the oil spill disasters: https://t.co/Xi5dnKTRFa @mhall55nine — Andrew E. Miller (@AmazonMiller) February 28, 2016

Mongabay

In early February, President Ollanta Humala's government declared a health emergency in the region because the oil had polluted the rivers that provide drinking water to the affected districts.