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Diving Team removes tons of marine waste from Ushairij coast
KUWAIT: The Kuwait Diving Team, operating under the Environmental Voluntary Foundation (EVF), has successfully completed the first phase of a major coastal cleanup campaign at Ushairij, removing eight tons of marine debris including plastic waste, abandoned fishing nets, wood, iron, barrels and tires. The waste posed a serious threat to both marine navigation and the coastal environment.
Team leader Waleed Al-Fadhel told KUNA on Wednesday that the initiative comes as part of the team’s participation in activities marking International Mother Earth Day, observed annually on April 22. He noted that Ushairij is considered a vital ecological zone in the southern Kuwait Bay, serving as a sanctuary for wildlife and a key stopover site for migratory birds traveling between North Asia and Africa. The area also encompasses the Umm Al-Naml Island Nature Reserve and holds historical significance for Kuwait.
Al-Fadhel indicated that cleanup efforts would continue over the coming days due to the significant volume of waste collected, emphasizing the need for joint efforts to restore the area’s natural state. He stressed that the team’s coastal cleanup projects, which have been ongoing since its establishment in 1986, remain a core objective and align with the United Nations Environment Program’s “Clean Seas” initiative, aimed at combatting marine pollution and preserving marine ecosystems. The team is preparing to submit a detailed report of its activities to the UNEP Regional Office for West Asia, based in Beirut. Al-Fadhel highlighted the team’s rapid response mechanism, which involves immediate coordination with government entities and volunteers upon receiving reports of pollution.
He also noted that in the past four months, the team has carried out several cleanup operations along the Kuwaiti coastline, including in East Al-Judayliyyat, Sulaibikhat, Kuwait Towers, Al-Salam, Nuwaiseeb, Al-Zour, Bnaider and Khiran. Al-Fadhel urged the public, especially beachgoers, to support efforts to preserve the marine environment, stressing its importance as both a livelihood resource and a natural attraction. He also called for enhanced environmental monitoring and stricter enforcement by relevant authorities to deter violations.
He extended his gratitude to the government bodies supporting the initiative, particularly the Environment Public Authority, the General Directorate of Coast Guard, the Kuwait Ports Authority, Kuwait Municipality, and the Public Authority for Agricultural and Fish Resources, as well as private sector partners and individual volunteers. Al-Fadhel concluded by praising the government’s proactive environmental measures in the Ushairij and Kuwait Bay areas, including the removal of the former fishing village and port, reduction of industrial activity, and restrictions on overfishing — efforts that have significantly improved coastal conditions and restored natural water flow and sand movement in the area. — KUNA
CAIRO: Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah on Monday reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to strengthening joint Arab social and developmental efforts to uphold human rights and promote social justice. Delivering her speech at the 82nd session of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, held at the League of Arab States headquarters in Egypt, Dr Al-Huwailah opened by expressing deep sorrow over the tragic death of three Amiri Diwan employees in a traffic accident in Sharm El-Sheikh, offering condolences to the families and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
She expressed pride in Kuwait’s participation in the session, which addressed key social and developmental issues, and expressed hope it would yield decisions supporting social justice policies and the empowerment of women, girls, and persons with disabilities, particularly in political participation and gender equality. Dr Al-Huwailah noted that the session would adopt the draft agenda for the 45th session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs and prepare for the Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled in Doha next November. She emphasized Kuwait’s aspiration for Arab countries to make a strong and active presence at these events, showcasing development achievements and exchanging experiences in social care.
Officials are pictured during the meeting. – KUNA photos
Highlighting Kuwait’s role, she said the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, and the Public Authority for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities are committed to following up on the implementation of Council decisions, ensuring coordination that respects diversity and privacy while promoting social justice.
Dr Al-Huwailah concluded by thanking Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity and Head of the Executive Office Dr Maya Morsi for the warm reception and efficient organization. She also praised Egypt’s efforts in hosting the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit and its unwavering support for ending the conflict in Palestine. The Executive Office meetings are chaired by Egypt, with membership including Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, the Comoros, Lebanon and Libya, alongside the participation of the Social Affairs Sector of the League of Arab States, represented by Minister Plenipotentiary Enas Al-Farjani.- KUNA
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