Environmental impact of the Red Sea crisis
The Red Sea crisis has led to an ongoing environmental disaster.
Attack on the Rubymar[edit]
On 18 February, the Belize-flagged cargo ship Rubymar was attacked by the Iranian-backed Houthi movement in the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The Rubymar was struck by a missile, which caused catastrophic damage to the vessel and it was forced to come to a complete stop. Both Houthi and the United States confirmed the ship began sinking, which caused a 18 miles (29 km) oil spill. The Rubymar is also carrying a cargo of 41,000 tons of fertilizer, which is also at risk of spilling.[1][2][3][4]
This incident has raised alarms over the potential spillage of both oil and fertilizer into the Red Sea, posing a threat to marine life, coastal communities, and the region's fishing industry. The United States Central Command has highlighted the reckless nature of the attack and its disregard for the regional impact, underscoring the environmental disaster this has precipitated. The Rubymar's crew was evacuated with the assistance of coalition and merchant vessels, marking a dire situation as efforts to address the damage and prevent further environmental degradation continue.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ Harney, John (23 February 2024). "Houthi Attack on Ship Led to 'Environmental Disaster,' US Says" (News article). Bloomberg News. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ United States Central Command (23 February 2024). "On Feb. 18 between 9:30 p.m. and 10:40 p.m., Iran-backed Houthi terrorists attacked the M/V Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier. The ship is anchored but slowly taking on water. The unprovoked and reckless attack by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists caused significant damage to the ship, which caused an 18-mile oil slick. The M/V Rubymar was transporting over 41,000 tons of fertilizer when it was attacked, which could spill into the Red Sea and worsen this environmental disaster. The Houthis continue to demonstrate disregard for the regional impact of their indiscriminate attacks, threatening the fishing industry, coastal communities, and imports of food supplies" (Post on 𝕏). 𝕏 (Formerly Twitter). United States Armed Forces. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ Staff of the Maritime Executive (23 February 2024). "Rubymar Defies Houthis, Leaking Oil and Taking on Water, But Still Afloat" (News article). Plantation, Florida: Maritime Executive. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ "The United States reported the discovery of an oil spill in the Red Sea Geo Tv News" (News article). Geo TV News. 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ "Sinking ship hit by Houthi missile leaves 18-mile oil slick in Red Sea, US officials say". Yahoo News. 2024-02-23. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
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