Water Minister, OCHA official discuss potential environmental damage of FSO Safer

Water and Environment Minister  Abdul-Raqib al-Shurmani has discussed with Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (OCHA) Nahid Hussein aspects of coordination between the ministry and the program to face the potential environmental repercussions of the FSO Safer.

The meeting, which included an environment and emergency response expert at the United Nations Development Program Samia al-Duaij, touched on the steps and procedures to ensure the maintenance of the Safer floating tank anchored in the Red Sea since 2015 before any environmental disaster occurs in the territorial waters.

In the meeting, the Minister of Water and Environment stressed the keenness to coordinate with the United Nations Development Program for the maintenance of the Safer Reservoir, after rehabilitating specialized technical cadres from the relevant authorities, and providing the necessary equipment and capabilities for the maintenance process.

He also stressed the ministry’s keenness to communicate with international experts and consultants interested in the environment and how to protect it, to benefit from their expertise in maintaining the ship and facing the environmental damage it may cause in the event of a spill of its oil contents.

In return, Hussein  and al-Duaij indicated that neglecting the maintenance of the Safer ship, not performing the necessary maintenance, and unloading its contents of oil may cause a humanitarian and environmental disaster.

Hussein and al-Duaij stressed that the United Nations Development Program is seeking, in coordination with the concerned authorities in Yemen, to provide the necessary equipment and supplies for unloading oil from the tank to another ship, in order to avoid a disaster that threatens the environment and marine life in Yemen and the region.