IGAD concerned over 'looming disaster' after sinking of ship carrying fertiliser

A trade bloc of East African countries called for intervention to "avert looming ecological disaster" in the Red Sea following the sinking of a ship carrying fertiliser from a Houthi attack. 

Rubymar, the UK-owned vessel, went down over the weekend carrying 21,000-tonnes of fertiliser and fuel. 

The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said Thursday it was "extremely concerned" about the potential damage marine life.  

"The IGAD region and the entire Red Sea arena would need a very long period of time to address the fallouts of marine pollution. While, the Red Sea ecology would need more than 30 years to recover from the resulting dire consequences of the fuel leakage," IGAD said.

"IGAD calls upon all the stakeholders to invest in peaceful options to address the looming environmental disaster in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The attacks on ship must cease forthwith."