Environmentalists and residents from the port city of Aqaba, 300km south of Amman, say they fear a recent sewage leak in the nearby city of Eilat in Israel, which spilled into the Red Sea, could kill marine life in the Gulf of Aqaba and threaten public health.
On 30 September, Israeli officials closed the beach area in Eilat, 10km west of Aqaba, for two days as a precautionary measure after press reports of foul smells and floating excrement in the sea.
Israeli officials say around 600 cu. m. of raw sewage poured into the sea, forcing the authorities to ban swimming. However, it is difficult to verify this figure, and Aqaba residents fear much greater pollution: they say the foul smell has become unbearable.
Zaki Ahmed, 28, is a frequent visitor to the shores of Aqaba, Jordan’s only outlet to the sea. He used to swim there regularly but has now stopped: "I stopped going into the sea a week ago. I noticed the colour of the water was different and the smell was very bad... I am worried I will not be able to swim there any time soon."
Fishermen said they had noticed excrement floating in the sea and some dead fish: "I did not see a lot of dead fish, but it is very clear that waste water is poison to fish. They just suffocate and die immediately and there is nothing we can do about it," said a fisherman, who gave his first name, Ali.
 Aqaba is a very vulnerable area due to its small size and geographical location. There is a great risk that people and fish could get poisoned. |
Vulnerable environment
As a result of its semi-enclosed nature, the Gulf of Aqaba is susceptible to marine pollution and ecosystem degradation. Despite Jordanian government assurances that the situation is under control, activists fear the "fragile" nature of Aqaba and the port area make it very easy for pollution to spread.
Ahmed Koufahi, executive manager of Jordan Environment Group, is concerned about the short- and long-term effects of this leak: "Aqaba is a very vulnerable area due to its small size and geographical location. There is a great risk that people and fish could get poisoned… In the long run I am worried thousands of corrals could die - a catastrophe as far as marine life is concerned."
He said he was sure pollution levels were much higher than what was being reported as environmental rules and regulations were routinely flouted: "The leak is one of many.” He said intense shipping activity had also increased oil spills and contributed to the problem.
Aqaba was turned into a special economic zone by Jordan's King Abdullah six years ago, in a bid to turn the city into a commercial hub. It was given administrative independence and economic incentives. Dozens of high-rise buildings are being constructed along the coast. Trade has boomed over the past few years, leading to a surge in the city's population.
 Photo: Google Maps  |
| A map highlighting Eilat, in southern Israel, and the surrounding region |
The special economic zone authority, which runs the city, has imposed tough laws to combat pollution, including a zero discharge policy. In addition, a comprehensive environmental monitoring programme along the full length of the country's coastline has been in place since 2000.
However, Koufahi said laws were no good if they were not respected: "All the laws introduced by the authority are modern and could turn Aqaba into a clean port. But the problem lies with practice. We are very aware that few people respect the law.”
He also said there should be a clear mechanism of cooperation between Jordan and Israel to fight any possible leakages.
He called on citizens to "immediately" report to the nearest health centre if they had bathed in the sea and felt sick. “If patients are not treated fast they could dehydrate and die," he warned.
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