UN Commences Oil Extraction from Decaying Yemeni Tanker in Red Sea

The United Nations has begun the process of removing over 1 million barrels of oil from a decaying supertanker off Yemen's Red Sea coast in an effort to prevent a potential environmental catastrophe. The tanker, known as the Safer, has been moored off Yemen for over 30 years and its structural integrity has significantly deteriorated, putting it at risk of exploding. The UN has warned that a spill from the tanker could cost $20 billion to clean up and have devastating consequences for the region, including damage to fish stocks and the closure of ports that provide vital humanitarian aid to Yemen. The US has contributed $10 million towards the operation and is urging other countries to contribute the remaining $22 million needed.