Pollution in the Red Sea has reached epic proportions. Coral reefs spanning thousands of kilometers along the coastline in the region are under threat of extinction, according to a statement issued by the regional organization for marine ecology protection in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Eden.
“Even though Red Sea is said to enjoy one of the safest environment in the world, it has recently come under severe pressure due to illegal fishing, the depositing of untreated sewage, the shipping of waste including toxic substances and increased shipping activities carrying chemicals and crude oil,” according to a statement of the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
“The entire expanse of sea lying between Jeddah and Qunfudha is polluted and has resulted in the depletion of the fish resources and the total disappearance of tuna fish. Reckless fishing damages the fish-breeding environment,” says Abdullah Al-Sayed, a prominent fisherman in Jeddah.
He added that sewage-pumping is another major factor that has led to the destruction of habitats of fish and other sea organisms. Even locations away from coastal areas are not free from the ravages caused by coastal pollutants. “Undersea currents and wind carrying coastal pollutants to distant parts of the sea include locations where various types of fish grow in large numbers,” Al-Sayed told Arab News.
The Red Sea, home to 662 varieties of coral, has the largest variety of coral in the north of the Indian Ocean. Coral in the region grows at the rate of between five millimeters and 25 millimeters annually.
Coral reefs contribute directly or indirectly to the economies of the countries to which they belong. While 12 percent of world's fish production depends on coral, their formation also serves as a major tourist attraction. The reef also plays a major role in protecting coastlines because they serve as a natural shield against strong waves swallowing the beaches.
The regional organization has recently celebrated a coral day in the Red Sea rim countries under the theme “Coral Reef First."
The secretary-general of the organization, Ziyad Abu Gharara, said that coral day was celebrated with the aim of underscoring the importance of conserving coral for the growth of natural resources and as a means of sustained economic and environmental development.
“The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are a vital link between oceans and continents. They are also important insofar as there are marine beings and coral reef that are not found in other parts of the world. In addition, they are a symbol of geological wealth and cultural heritage.”
He added that the celebration also aims to heighten awareness among users of coral and decision makers in countries that have a share in the sea.
Muhammad Ibrahim, a diving tourism guide in Jeddah, said various kinds of waste has damaged coral and frightened away fish. Empty bottles, for instance, are often found accumulated near coral.
An insufficient number of workers in the field of environmental conservation and a lack of research studies are some of the obstacles to organizing environment protection programs and planning environment policies in many countries.
In a related development, Saudi Aramco and the King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals are conducting a joint study on the impact of oil tankers and other ships on marine life in the Gulf. Aramco is also collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture to draw up a strategy for the protection of locations where fish live in large numbers in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf.
Muhammad Al-Aziz, director general of the Administration for the Environmental Protection of Aquatic life at the Ministry of Agriculture, said the ministry has laid down regulations to stop illegal fishing in the Kingdom’s waters. Violation of regulations is punishable by up to SR 10,000 in fines, jail time for repeated violations and a cancellation of fishing registration.
Red Sea coral reefs face extinction
Red Sea coral reefs face extinction
KSrelief continues health aid work around the globe
- KSrelief delivered 2,000 healthcare kits to earthquake-affected Syrian refugees
- In Taiz governorate, Yemen, the agency, through the Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Center Project, has helped 406 people who lost limbs
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief continues to carry out health aid work around the world, delivering aid packages and performing medical procedures.
In Taiz governorate, Yemen, the agency, through the Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Center Project, has helped 406 people who lost limbs, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The project delivered 1,475 services in total, with 67 percent provided to males and 33 percent to females.
Among the beneficiaries, 11 percent were displaced people, and 89 percent were residents.
The services included the delivery, measurement and maintenance of prosthetic limbs, as well as physical therapy and specialist consultations.
The assistance is part of the ongoing humanitarian projects provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by KSrelief, to enhance the health sector’s capabilities and alleviate the Yemeni people’s suffering.
In Turkiye, the Saudi Sama’a Volunteer Program for Cochlear Implantation and Hearing Rehabilitation has completed work for earthquake victims in Reyhanli.
Also in Turkiye, KSrelief delivered 2,000 healthcare kits to earthquake-affected Syrian refugees in the Islahiye camp in Gaziantep, near Reyhanli. The program ran from June 30 to July 7.
During this time, the volunteer medical team from KSrelief performed cochlear implants to restore hearing and provided auditory rehabilitation therapy sessions for 84 children.
Manwhile, at the dialysis center in Banadir Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia, 348 patients were treated in May, 163 of whom received 1,051 scheduled hemodialysis sessions and 12 emergency sessions. Outpatient clinic services and medical examinations were provided to 177 patients.
Of the patients, 62 percent were male, 38 percent were female, 2 percent were displaced people and 98 percent were residents.
Kingdom records 17% rise in passenger air travel in first half of 2024
- Flights up 12% and airfreight 41%, says aviation authority
- Saudi airports and airlines win top global services awards
RIYADH: The Kingdom has recorded a 17 percent rise in passenger air traffic over the first six months of 2024, to 62 million compared to 53 million in the same period last year, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
There were 446,000 flights, marking a 12 percent increase compared to 399,000 flights during the first six months of 2023, the report said, citing statistics released by the General Authority of Civil Aviation.
Airfreight volume also went up, hitting 606,000 tonnes in the first six months of 2024, a 41 percent jump from 430,000 tonnes in the same period last year, GACA reported.
The Kingdom’s aviation sector has developed considerably over the past six months, including 16 Saudi Arabia airports obtaining the Airports Council International Airport Service Quality accreditation for 2024, the report also said.
Saudi Arabia’s airports are now ranked in the top 50 worldwide, it said, citing the evaluation results announced by Skytrax, the international air transport rating organization.
Three of the Kingdom’s international airports won awards from ratings agencies last year.
Madinah’s Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport was rated the best regional airport in the Middle East during the Skytrax World Airport Awards ceremony in Frankfurt, Germany.
King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah got the highest ratings on the Airports Council International list for 2023.
King Fahd International Airport in Dammam won three of the Saudi Airports Awards for 2023, including for the best facility in the 5 to 15 million passenger category, for the best customs inspection area, and best services for people with disabilities.
Meanwhile, national carrier Saudia won awards for being the most advanced airline in the world, and having the best economy class catering for 2024 in the Skytrax global ranking, the SPA noted.
Flynas was named fourth-best low-cost airline in the world for the second consecutive year and the first in the Middle East for the seventh consecutive year, according to Skytrax.
“All these achievements are part of the initiatives and programs launched by GACA, aiming to contribute to the development of the air transport industry locally, regionally, and internationally, in line with the National Strategy for the Civil Aviation Sector,” the SPA report stated.
“The strategy aims to make the aviation sector in the Kingdom the first in the Middle East by reaching 330 million passengers, increasing air freight capacity to 4.5 million tonnes, and raising air connectivity to reach 250 destinations to and from Saudi airports by 2030,” it added.
During the first half of this year, GACA launched several projects, including the development and expansion of Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.
In addition, there was an expansion of Al-Ahsa International Airport, a new international departure terminal built at Taif International Airport, and self-driving taxi experience for the first time during the Hajj season.
Also, the first permit was awarded to use drones for cleaning buildings; a testing center for aviation personnel was launched; and the first phase of electronic gates was completed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
This year, GACA won two gold awards for Best Customer Service and Best Public Service Center in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa region.
In addition, it won a Consumer Protection Association award for excellence in upholding passengers’ rights, and a certificate for flight safety and environmental sustainability.
Saudi Water Authority, World Bank sign cooperation agreement
RIYADH: The Saudi Water Authority, represented by its President Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim, signed a cooperation agreement with the World Bank as part of the Saudi Ministry of Finance’s technical cooperation program with the international institution.
The agreement aims to benefit from the authority’s expertise in developing the water sector and from its know-how in managing water resources by reducing operational costs.
It also aims to invest the accumulated research and engineering expertise to enhance water security through knowledge transfer.
Saudi authority is first in world to achieve ISO’s new AI management system certification
- The standard, introduced in December last year, is the first of its kind for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems
- It provides guidance on addressing the challenges posed by AI, such as ethical values, transparency and continuous learning
RIYADH: The Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence has become the first organization in the world to achieve the International Standards Organization’s 42001:2023 certification for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The ISO standard, which was introduced in December last year, is the first of its kind for AIMS. It provides guidance on addressing the challenges posed by AI, such as ethical values, transparency and continuous learning.
It also defines a systematic approach for managing risks and opportunities, and for achieving a balance between innovation and governance in organizations that adopt AI technologies in their work.
Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, the president of SDAIA, said he was proud of the accreditation and that it represents recognition of the implementation by the authority of appropriate standards and practices related to management of AI, and reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing reputation for excellence in the field of data and AI.
He added that the authority’s progress and successes would not be possible without the continuing support of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is chairman of its board of directors.
This support enables the organization to serve as a national reference point for data and AI, he added, and to regulate, develop and manage the implementation of these technologies in ways that ensure they are properly governed and position Saudi Arabia as a leader in the field.
Patients receive hearts from donors in Saudi Arabia, UAE
RIYADH: The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre has given hope to three patients, two men and one girl, after it successfully transplanted hearts from donors in Riyadh, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi.
The journey of hope began with medical teams traveling from the hospital’s cardiac unit to Abu Dhabi and Jeddah to remove the hearts from two donors. The hearts were then transported by private jet to Riyadh.
A team from King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre then traveled to the King Abdulaziz Medical City to remove the third heart. It was transported by ambulance with the cooperation of the traffic department of the Riyadh region, which accelerated its arrival.
Traffic patrols escorting ambulances from King Khalid International Airport and King Abdulaziz Medical City to the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre helped enable the transplant operations to take place within less than 24 hours.
One of the patients was a 9-year-old girl suffering from a weakened heart muscle. Her life had been saved by implanting an artificial pump last March.
