A $40 million ship threatens 3 Arab countries with environmental destruction and closing sea ports

The oil spill from the Safer tanker in the Red Sea threatens 8 million people with losing access to running water and destroying Yemen's Red Sea fishing stocks within three weeks, according to a report by the Guardian newspaper.

The newspaper quoted the latest studies and follow-ups, which were monitored by the "Nature Sustainability" magazine, that the oil spill may extend and cause environmental destruction affecting Saudi Arabia, Eritrea and Djibouti.

The Safer, which was made 45 years ago and is used as a floating storage platform, is loaded with 1.1 million barrels of crude oil, valued at about $40 million.

The ship has not undergone any maintenance since 2015, which led to the corrosion of its hull and deterioration in its condition.

On May 27, water leaked into the ship's engine room, which is threatening at any moment to explode or fission, which will lead to the leakage of its cargo in the waters of the Red Sea, according to "AFP".

Tripartite talks between the Houthis, the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the United Nations have faltered, despite repeated warnings, including in the Security Council, of impact if the tanker explodes, disintegrates, or begins to leak.

UN officials have been unable to secure safeguards to preserve the ship, including its corroded hull, which is now manned by just seven crew members.

According to the newspaper, the leak could lead to the closure of the Red Sea ports of Hodeidah and Saleef within two weeks, threatening to deliver 200,000 tons of fuel to Yemen, equivalent to 38% of its fuel requirements.

Fuel prices are likely to rise by up to 80%, and the lack of fuel for water pumps will deprive 8 million Yemenis of running water.

Leakage will threaten 66.5% to 85.2% of Red Sea fisheries within one week, and 93.5% to 100% of those fisheries within three weeks, depending on the season.

The United Nations is seeking permission from the Houthis to inspect the ship, but the Houthis want pledges to repair the ship, a process that requires funds that the United Nations does not have.

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