An uncontrolled oil spill in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf will cause irreparable damage to the ecology of the Middle East region and affect human health, according to Kaveh Madani, Director of the Institute of Water Resources, Environment and Health at the United Nations University.
“Marine flora and fauna will be destroyed. We should not forget that the coastal communities and residents of the region depend on fishing and food resources of these common waters,” said the expert.
Madani also warned that pollution effects could harm the health of coastal populations. He noted that ongoing conflict has already damaged ships, refineries, and petrochemical facilities.
“The consequences of this destruction will be felt long after hostilities end,” he added. “What is happening off the coast of Oman could become one of the largest cases of prolonged uncontrolled oil spills in history.”
On August 8, the tanker Caroline Bezengi, carrying nearly a million barrels of oil and under sanctions, ran aground approximately two months ago near a protected water area off the island of Qibliya in southwestern Oman. The spill has already covered an estimated 800 square kilometers of sea surface.
According to Bagai, pollution in the Persian and Oman Gulf waters has caused trillions of dollars in damage to Iran’s coastal regions over the past decades.
