The Intergovernmental Authority on Development in Eastern Africa (IGAD) has confirmed that the environment of the Red Sea will require more than 30 years to recover from the severe consequences resulting from the fuel and fertilizer leak from the "Rubymar" ship, which was targeted by the Houthi group on February 18. In a statement, IGAD expressed deep concern regarding the environmental catastrophe looming in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden due to the sinking of the "Rubymar" off the coast of Yemen. The organization, which is a regional economic group focused on development among East African countries and is based in Djibouti, stated that the "Rubymar" was carrying over 21,000 metric tons of ammonium phosphate fertilizer and fuel, equivalent to 200 tons of oil.
IGAD pointed out that the fuel spill would lead to the destruction of marine life and coral reefs, "endangering hundreds of thousands of jobs in the fishing industry in addition to cutting off food and fuel supplies to coastal countries." It added that "the environment of the Red Sea will need more than 30 years to recover from the severe consequences of the fuel spill." The organization, established in 1996, warned of the "disruption of one of the busiest maritime shipping routes, affecting the smooth movement of goods and services across the Red Sea waterway."
