More than 52 years ago, the extractive oil activity of an extension of approximately 500,000 hectares of Amazon tropical forest began in Ecuador. At the beginning of the oil activity, these areas were inhabited by different native peoples of the same Amazon. However, many employees of the oil industry chose to settle in the Amazon. Today 52 years later, this area is inhabited by more than 250,000 inhabitants, of which no more than 10% belong to the original peoples of the area.

In the Province of Sucumbios, there is the canton of Shushufindi with a population of 45,000 inhabitants. It was created next to or within the oil infrastructure, this is the reason why statistically; the canton of Shushufindi, together with the other three cantons a part of the project, register the highest level of environmental pollution in Ecuador. In addition, they are among the 10 cities with the highest poverty in Ecuador. Studies of health impacts carried out by local organizations (UDAPT and Clínica Ambiental) have confirmed that these areas have the highest rate of cancer cases by inhabitants of Ecuador and possibly of Latin America. Still, no public institution has health records on this matter.
In just one year, there has been collected 150 cases of cancer.

• Lago Agrio Canton: 36 cases
• Shushufindi: 42 cases
• Joya de los Sacha: 42 cases
• Francisco de Orellana 26 cases.