Ruaa Centre Conducts Comprehensive Cleanup Campaign on Al-Azizi Island After Eid al-Fitr Holiday

Ruaa Centre for Strategic Studies, Consulting, and Training carried out a comprehensive cleanup campaign today, Tuesday, along the coast of Al-Azizi Island following the Eid al-Fitr holiday, as part of ongoing efforts to protect the coastal environment and preserve marine turtles during the hatching season.
The cleanup campaign—implemented under the project “Save Marine Turtles in the Gulf of Aden,” supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Small Grants Programme (SGP), in cooperation with the General Authority for Environmental Protection—featured active female participation, reflecting the center’s commitment to involving women in environmental activities to ensure sustainability.
Large quantities of plastic waste and various litter left behind by some visitors were collected and removed, in clear violation of the ban on visiting the island during the nesting and hatching season. These actions reflect irresponsible behavior and serious environmental negligence, as such waste poses a direct threat to marine turtles and their natural habitat, undermining efforts to protect this sensitive ecosystem.
Dr. Jaklin Mansoor Al-Batani, Head of the Centre, noted that irresponsible practices by some individuals—particularly visitors from outside the city of Aden—have become a significant problem affecting the island’s cleanliness and the safety of the marine environment. She emphasized the importance of collective community efforts and adherence to regulations designed to protect environmentally sensitive sites during turtle breeding seasons.
Dr. Al-Batani also expressed her sincere appreciation to the leadership of the local authority in Al-Buraiqah District, represented by Dr. Salah Al-Shawji, for their substantial efforts in protecting the coastal environment, particularly for issuing the directive banning visits to Al-Azizi Island during the nesting and hatching season, given its important role in preserving marine turtles and their natural habitats.