Yemeni Minister of Water and Environment Eng. Tawfik al-Sharjabi expressed hope that the international community and the UN Security Council would take firm positions to compel the Houthi militias to stop worsening the Safer tanker crisis.
During his meeting on Friday with Chinese Ambassador to Yemen Kang Yong, the minister pointed to the environmental, humanitarian and economic threat posed by Safer to Yemen and international navigation, in light of the Houthi rejection to cooperate with the UN.
He denounced the militia’s insistence on preventing the access of a UN technical team to assess the condition of the tanker, which is stranded off Yemen’s Red Sea oil terminal of Ras Issa, and determine the steps needed to avoid an environmental disaster.
The Yemeni News Agency (Saba) reported on Friday that the minister discussed with Kang Yong the possibility of supporting the water sector in Yemen, which has been ruined due to the war launched by the Houthi militia.
The Chinese ambassador expressed concern about the condition of the Safer oil tanker, underlining his country’s backing for Yemen and its continued efforts to resolve the outstanding issue.
He also reiterated support for the peace process and the UN envoy’s endeavor to reach a lasting and sustainable solution to the Yemeni crisis.
