Environmental Response to the MV Wakashio Oil Spill in Mauritius

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Environmental response to the MV Wakashio oil spill in Mauritius Charlotta Benedek Head UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit Briefing on Ongoing Environmental Emergencies for the Geneva Environment Network (GEN) 8th September 2020 Situation • On 25 July 2020, the bulk carrier vessel, MV Wakashio, ran aground off the coast of Mauritius carrying nearly 4,200 metric tons of fuel. • On 6 August 2020, the Republic of Mauritius put out a request for international assistance. Briefing on Ongoing Environmental Emergencies for the Geneva Environment Network (GEN) 8th September 2020 Impact • The MV Wakashio contained approximately 3,894 tons of fuel oil, 207 tons of diesel and 90 tons of lubricant oil on board. • By 11 August, estimates indicated that 1,000 - 2,000 tons of fuel oil had leaked from a breached tank and drifted into the surrounding lagoon, including areas of mangrove. • The spill is considered the worst in the history of Mauritius. Briefing on Ongoing Environmental Emergencies for the Geneva Environment Network (GEN) 8th September 2020 UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit Activation • On 7 August, UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit (JEU), in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), identified and mobilized an oil spill expert. • From 11 August, working in support of the government and in close collaboration with UNCT and NGO partners • Emergency phase finished 4 September Briefing on Ongoing Environmental Emergencies for the Geneva Environment Network (GEN) 8th September 2020 International coordination structure and process Request for Government of Alert Deployment assistance Mauritius • Alert on Virtual OSOCC UN Country Team • Offers of experts under Resident Selection • Coordinator • ITOPF • France JEU • Japan UN RESPONSE TEAM and IMO UN Response • India Team • JEU/IMO expert • NGOs • Disaster Response Regional • WFP Coordination (OCHA) Office • WHO • Legal/police expertise UN • … (UNODC) RESPONSE • Displacement expertise TEAM (IOM) • Mission Support (UNRC) Briefing on Ongoing Environmental Emergencies for the Geneva Environment Network (GEN) 8th September 2020 Immediate Response Immediate Response Key achievements and way forward • Space and tools to support the national coordination response • Improve overall crisis communication to all segments of population • Provide a neutral and impartial understanding of the oil spill • Recovery operation and wreck removal • Continued shoreline clean up • Monitoring and Ecosystems assessment • Longer-term projects Briefing on Ongoing Environmental Emergencies for the Geneva Environment Network (GEN) 8th September 2020 Thank you Charlotta Benedek Head, UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit [email protected].

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