UN launches operation to prevent environmental disaster off the coast of Yemen
WORLD 03 June 2023 - 14:57
The United Nations officially launched its mission this week to prevent what it says could be an "environmental catastrophe" on the Red Sea. Sitting off the coast of Yemen lies a nearly half-century-old ship with roughly 1.14 million barrels of crude oil on board, the global agency said – and it's "deteriorating rapidly."
The massive 47-year-old supertanker, FSO Safer, rests just about 5 1/2 miles off of Yemen's coast, where it has gone without maintenance for seven years, CBS reports.
"Its structural integrity is compromised, and it is deteriorating rapidly," the UN says. "There is a serious risk the vessel could be struck by a floating mine, spontaneously explode or break apart at any moment."
Officials have been pushing for the situation to be addressed for years. In 2020, the U.N.'s Environment executive director Inger Andersen warned that if the oil on that ship was to leak into the water, it could unleash four times more oil than what was released in Alaska's Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989, which affected more than 1,300 miles of shoreline and killed thousands of birds and sea otters, hundreds of seals and nearly two dozen killer whales.
To this day, several species are still considered not to have recovered from the incident, according to NOAA, and the spill was one of the nation's biggest environmental disasters in recent history.
And it would only be an added strain on the region's environment. On Africa's West Coast, millions of barrels of oil have been spilled in the Niger Delta for decades, leading to environmental damage, lawsuits and protests.
If this tanker were to burst open, the U.N. estimates it would cost $20 billion to clean up and could affect 17 million people while destroying coral reefs, mangroves and other forms of sea life, making it "one of the worst oil spills in human history."
"Coastal communities would be hit hardest. Hundreds of thousands of jobs in the fishing industry would be lost almost overnight," the U.N. says. "It would take 25 years for fish stocks to recover."
Caliber.Az
1
|
Armenia returns four villages to Azerbaijan, paving the way for peace in the South Caucasus Landmark accord
23 April 2024 - 09:14
|
2
|
Mark Rutte seeks Türkiye's backing for new job A new pair of hands
24 April 2024 - 16:55
|
3
|
Iran re-evaluating its ties with Azerbaijan, Armenia Baku - more important, honest partner than Yerevan
25 April 2024 - 12:00
|
4
|
Armenian PM's Moscow visit sparks speculation on bilateral relations Dilemma between East, West
23 April 2024 - 11:19
|
5
|
Bilateral relations, regional dynamics, & peacekeepers’ withdrawal Key takeaways from President Aliyev's Moscow visit
24 April 2024 - 14:07
|
Iran builds up military power by showing off advanced Bavar-373 air defence system
PHOTO25 April 2024 - 17:15
Presidents of Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan visit Fuzuli, Aghdam cities
PHOTO25 April 2024 - 17:05
Lukashenko blames opposition and NATO: They want to take a district in Brest region by force
25 April 2024 - 17:00
Top Israeli, Egyptian officials secretly meet to discuss possible Rafah invasion
25 April 2024 - 16:41
Energy leading to peace
Proceeding from Azerbaijani President’s speech in ADA25 April 2024 - 16:22
“It would be a big mistake if Armenia used the support gained from the EU against Azerbaijan”
Amashov’s impromptu interview with Ambassador Sharp25 April 2024 - 16:16
Armenian Parliament speaker says legitimate border crucial for peace with Azerbaijan
25 April 2024 - 16:07
New mass grave discovered in Khojaly
Investigation underway / PHOTO25 April 2024 - 15:51
Port of Baku: the Eurasian trade hub working to expand and accelerate growth
Article by Euronews / VIDEO25 April 2024 - 15:39
Hybrid warfare being waged against Armenia, official says
25 April 2024 - 15:24
Azerbaijani police discover cache of weapons in Khankendi, linked to Armenian forces
25 April 2024 - 14:58
Zakharova slams Armenian media for distorting Russian leadership’s statements on Baku-Yerevan ties
25 April 2024 - 14:44
Baku, Budapest cement economic ties, sign protocol
25 April 2024 - 14:27
Yerevan ready to discuss gas purchase with Baku – Armenian Speaker
UPDATED25 April 2024 - 14:15
Azerbaijan set to take bold steps vis-à-vis climate change - minister
25 April 2024 - 14:09
Official: Hamas would lay down its weapons if two-state solution implemented
25 April 2024 - 13:54
Türkiye captures nearly 3,000 Islamic State suspects in 10 months
VIDEO25 April 2024 - 13:40
Blinken tours China to promote some ties
25 April 2024 - 13:26
Azerbaijani presidential aide showcases Fuzuli's rebirth in stirring social media video
25 April 2024 - 13:15
Media: China harbours ship tied to North Korea-Russia arms transfers
25 April 2024 - 13:11
Western Azerbaijan Community condemns US human rights report as discriminatory
25 April 2024 - 12:58
Israeli Air Force strikes dozens of targets in Gaza
VIDEO25 April 2024 - 12:43
Hungary prepares to participate in Karabakh's reconstruction
25 April 2024 - 12:29
Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan appoints new prime minister
25 April 2024 - 12:15
Political analyst: Good relations with Türkiye to be favourable for Armenia
25 April 2024 - 12:13
Iran re-evaluating its ties with Azerbaijan, Armenia
Baku - more important, honest partner than Yerevan25 April 2024 - 12:00
Balancing Turkmenistan – Afghanistan relations
Deviated approach25 April 2024 - 11:48
CENTCOM: US repells Houthi attacks on ships
25 April 2024 - 11:44
France proposes new EU sanctions to fight Russian disinformation
25 April 2024 - 11:31
Minister: Cooperation with Azerbaijan contributes to Hungary's energy security
25 April 2024 - 11:20
EU's proposed Russia sanctions to target oil tankers, ships carrying N. Korean equipment
25 April 2024 - 11:16
Azerbaijani Army conducts command-staff exercises to maintain combat readiness
PHOTO/VIDEO25 April 2024 - 11:10
Armenian politician slams recent burning of Azerbaijani, Turkish flags in Yerevan
Calling the action belligerent pity25 April 2024 - 11:04
Azerbaijan-Kyrgyzstan business priorities: Advancing trade, energy, transport initiatives
Review by Caliber.Az25 April 2024 - 10:51
Media: US sends long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine
25 April 2024 - 10:38
Georgia's pre-election turmoil
How the Law on Foreign Agents shapes voter sentiment?25 April 2024 - 10:27
India stands for closer cooperation in fight against terrorism at BRICS meeting
25 April 2024 - 10:25
Iranian president urges international courts to punish Israel for Gaza Strip operation
25 April 2024 - 10:09
Azerbaijan submits report on Convention Against Torture to UN
25 April 2024 - 09:55
Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan sign Memorandum on Cooperation in religious sphere
25 April 2024 - 09:43