The government appears to be rushing its industrial downstream agenda, seemingly forgetting that what is at stake extends beyond land to marine ecosystems, indigenous communities and public health.

As a physician trained to respond to crises with data and empathy, I see the situation in Raja Ampat as not merely an environmental catastrophe, but a systemic threat to the health and future of Indonesia’s children, especially Papuan children living closest to this crisis.

Too often, mining issues are narrowly defined as environmental or economic concerns. Yet what is unfolding in Raja Ampat is a clear case of ecocide: large-scale ecosystem destruction with direct human consequences. If this continues, we are not just witnessing coral loss, but inviting an epidemic of chronic health issues such as respiratory disease, kidney failure, cancer and malnutrition, as well as psychosocial trauma from the erosion of coastal identity.

The "One Health" concept of the World Health Organization emphasizes that human health is inseparable from environmental integrity. When heavy metals contaminate water and seafood, diseases spread relentlessly through the bodies of children drinking groundwater and eating fish from polluted seas, indifferent to mining licenses.

Fish protein from Papua’s shallow seas is more than nutrition; it is the foundation of cognitive development for an entire generation. When mining sediment muddles these waters, we don't just lose marine species. We also risk diminishing the intellectual capacity of children facing chronic micronutrient deficiencies.

Globally, mining regions often yield more hospital patients than tax revenue. Raja Ampat could tragically join that list.