Catastrophic oil spill ravages Shabwa
SHABWA, Feb. 25 (YPA) – Sources have revealed a catastrophic oil spill ravaging Shabwa Governorate, which is under the control of the Saudi-led coalition factions in southeastern Yemen.
The pollution, caused by oil spills from the crude oil pipeline running from the Ayadh fields in Jardan District to the Al-Nushaymah oil port in the coastal Radhum District on the Arabian Sea, has severely damaged both groundwater and surface water resources.
The oil spills have caused widespread destruction of agricultural lands, harmed public health, and contributed to the spread of cancer-related diseases across various districts.
The pollution has also significantly impacted the livelihoods of farmers in Shabwa, who rely on agriculture, livestock, and fishing. Soil contamination has reduced fertility, while crude oil spills into the sea have destroyed fish stocks, exacerbating the economic hardships endured by the population amid ongoing conflict and poverty.
Environmental advocates in Shabwa have emphasized the necessity of relocating the oil pipeline away from populated areas or replacing it with modern infrastructure that complies with global environmental standards. They have also called for comprehensive studies to assess the damage and develop plans for environmental remediation.
Unfortunately, all proposed solutions have been ignored. Pro-coalition local authorities have gone so far as to punish officials who attempted to address the issue, including the dismissal of Engineer Mohammed Salem Mujawar, the Director of the Environment Office in Shabwa. Mujawar had previously revealed the scale of the disaster through scientific studies.
The sources accused the pro-coalition government of systematic failure in protecting the health of the population and the safety of their environment. The government failed to carry out maintenance for the oil pipeline, which has been nearly dilapidated since the 1980s, and has not established specialized centers to treat diseases.
It is also worth noting that the Austrian company working in the S2 oil sector in Al-Uqlah has ended its operations without paying salaries to the employees who were laid off, nor providing compensation for the oil pollution.
@E.Y.M