Massive Oil Removal Operation Underway as Deteriorating Tanker Threatens Yemen's Coast

The United Nations has announced the successful completion of the transfer of over a million barrels of oil from an aging tanker, FSO Safer, moored off the coast of war-torn Yemen. The operation, which began on July 25, has prevented a potential environmental catastrophe. The dilapidated vessel, which held four times the amount of oil spilled in the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, posed a significant risk of a spill or explosion. The oil has now been transferred to a replacement tanker called MOST Yemen. However, additional funding is needed to transport the oil away and move the Safer. The U.N. is urging the international community and private sector to contribute to fill the remaining funding gap of $22 million.