In the Gulf of Aden, the Houthi attacks have security, geopolitical, economic and environmental concerns. A look at a multifaceted crisis.
At a time when Yemen is one of the most poverty-stricken countries in the world, the attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden perpetuated by the Houthis are further worsening the region’s economic situation. Since November 2023, this intensification of their actions has greatly disrupted world maritime trade. According to the UN, at the end of January 2024, the traffic had fallen by 42% in recent months. According to UNCTAD, the UN agency responsible for trade and development, ‘more than 80% of world trade in goods takes place by sea’. With other roads already under strain, this phenomenon is all the more worrying. As a bypass road of choice, the Cape of Good Hope is the most frequently used alternative. Making this diversions means longer journeys. In addition to extra fuel costs, this means longer delivery times and, above all, the risk of global inflation. This bypass is intended to protect the crews and goods of companies such as CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd and Maesk. International concern is focused in particular on food inflation, which has already increased since the invasion of Ukraine, disrupting transit via the Black Sea.
Whilst the majority of ships stop passing through the Red Sea, a few persistent ships face ongoing attacks from the Houthis. Since the attack on the Rubymar in February 2024, their strikes in the area have escalated. On 6 March, the attacks on the MV True Confidence resulted in three deaths and four injuries among the crew. At the beginning of April, the movement claimed three attacks in 24 hours, then five military operations in 72 hours. The British ship Hope Island and the Israeli ships MSC GRACE F and MSC GINA were also hit. In the same month, the Houthi rebels also carried out large-scale raids. This included the launch of 28 drones, which were shot down by France and its allies.
Oils spills caused by Houthis attack
This economic challenge has a second, environmental one. A challenge of lesser weight in the eyes of the world, the ecosystems of the maritime zone are also suffering the effects of the conflict. While, according to the UN, a large number of shipowners of all kinds have ceased their activities in the area – such as gas carriers – 82% of oil tanker traffic continues. In other words, the risk of an oil slick is a very real threat.
The British NGO Conflict and Environment Observatory reported a 220 km oil slick in the Red Sea on 17 July. Two days earlier, the tanker CHIOS LION (flagged to Liberia) was bombed by a Houthi surface drone attack. The impact took place 97 miles north-west of Al-Hodeïdah, close to the oil slick detected by Sentinel-2, a European Space Agency (ESA) satellite. The slick is believed to contain 600,000 barrels of fuel oil from the CHIOS LION. By 21 July, the slick had broken up, travelling 60 km in five days at a speed of 12 km/day. It is believed to have reached the island of Jabal Al-tair and is now moving towards the Yemeni coast. The crew is safe and the ship, having sustained minor damage, is being towed to Egypt.
This is reminiscent of the attack on the Rubymar, which already caused an environmental disaster. At the end of February, two rockets hit the vessel, causing a major oil leak. Although the crew was spared, the ship sank on the spot. Greenpeace was the first to sound the alarm about the risk of massive pollution in the area. In fact, oil spills, fertiliser spills and other chemical products (Rubymar’s cargo) cause considerable damage. Within ecosystems, oil suffocates coral reefs and affects fish, sea turtles, migratory birds and various other mammals. Fertilisers cause eutrophication, leading to a proliferation of harmful algae to marine life in the long term.
A local economy on the verge of the abyss
‘The Houthis persist in showing disregard for the regional impact of their indiscriminate attacks, threatening the fishing industry, coastal communities and food imports’ the United States Middle East Central Command (CentCom) recently stated. Some Yemeni coastal communities are nowadays entirely dependent on fishing. The environmental consequences of Houthi reprisals are spreading into their fishing areas. Once in the water, hydrocarbons reduce catches of fish and seafood, while affecting their health quality. This disrupts the food security of a population that has already been in need of humanitarian aid for several years.
On the spot, this crisis in the fishing industry is cutting into not only livelihoods, but also employment opportunities in related sectors, such as food processing and catering.
