Yemen’s HSA Group has announced a US$ 1.2 million donation to support the UN’s efforts to avert a major humanitarian, economic, and ecological disaster in the Red Sea due to the FSO Safer.
The FSO Safer has been moored off Yemen’s Red Sea coast for over 30 years. The vessel has recently deteriorated beyond repair and could disintegrate or explode at any time, with its oil cargo spilling into the Red Sea.
HSA Group’s contribution will go towards the UN’s US$ 80 million target to fund an emergency operation to remove the tanker’s oil cargo and safely transfer it to another vessel.
To date, the UN has received US$ 64 million in pledges from over a dozen governments. Less than US$ 16 million is now required to help ensure the critical mission can occur.
According to the UN, failure to reach the targeted amount could likely result in a major oil spill in the Red Sea. It is estimated that the cost of a clean up would be US$20 billion, with the ultimate cost to the global economy many more times that amount.
Nabil Hayel Saeed Anam, Managing Director, HSA Group – Yemen region, said:
HSA Group is gravely concerned by the impending threat of an oil spill from FSO SAFER. A spill on the scale projected by the UN would have a devastating impact on Yemen
During June, a UN Humanitarian Coordinator urged the public to help with funding to prevent a catastrophic oil spill in the Red Sea. According to David Gressly, the public is called to help “cross the finish line” to get the required funds in place for the first part of the operation to take place.
In addition, a social media campaign launched by the United Nations aims to bring the world closer to prevent an FSO Safer disaster. The goal is to raise funds to start the $80 million emergency operation to transfer oil from the FSO Safer to a temporary vessel.
