The GCC yesterday called on the UN to send inspectors to Iran's Bushehr plant after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake raised fears over safety at the nuclear complex.
The quake, the aftershocks of which were felt in the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain, had caused a "great deal of concern among GCC countries and the international community", said Abullatif Al Zayani, the GCC's secretary general, at a meeting of emergency management officials from across the Arabian Gulf in Riyadh.
The UN International Atomic Energy Agency must "send a specialised technical team to inspect the Bushehr nuclear plant and investigate potential damage", he said.
Tuesday's earthquake killed at least 37 people in Iran. The epicentre was located 96km from Bushehr, which both Tehran and the reactor's manufacturers in Russia said was not damaged.
The site at Bushehr is closer to Abu Dhabi, Kuwait City, Manama and Doha than it is to Tehran.
"The GCC countries have previously warned against the danger of the nuclear reactor of Bushehr and the possible nuclear leak and its harmful effect on the environment in the Gulf," Mr Al Zayani said.
Mr Al Zayani also urged Iran to join the UN Convention on Nuclear Safety, which would facilitate access to the power plant by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran remains the only nuclear power not to be a signatory of the treaty, which was negotiated in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
Iran has been a member of the IAEA since 1958 and also signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Both pacts allow independent inspectors to tour Iran's nuclear facilities, although Tehran has refused inspections in the past.
Fears over contamination add another level of concern to Iran's already controversial nuclear programme. Western countries have imposed sanctions on the country in protest against its wider nuclear programme, which they say could include weapons. Tehran says its programme is for peaceful purposes only.
But even if energy is the only pursuit, Gulf states say they feel vulnerable. The nuclear site is simply "too close for comfort", Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg, the GCC assistant secretary general, wrote in an opinion piece for Saudi Arabia's Arab News timed with the Riyadh meeting.
The Gulf states sit downwind from any potential leak, and experts say there would be a risk of contamination in a nuclear incident.
"If there was an earthquake right on top of the nuclear plant, we would have had a very big problem," said Abdullah Toukan, a nuclear physicist and head of the Strategic Analysis and Global Risk Assessment Centre in Jordan. "Depending on the climate, the wind speed, it could easily contaminate the Gulf states, especially Qatar and Bahrain."
Iran sits on major fault lines and has suffered several devastating earthquakes, including a 6.6-magnitude quake in 2003 which flattened the south-eastern city of Bam and killed more than 25,000 people.
The Bushehr reactor is in an earthquake zone at the juncture of three tectonic plates, but is designed to withstand an 8.0-magnitude quake and possibly up to a magnitude of 9.0, experts from the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London reported last year.
Despite its volatile geographical location, authorities in Tehran announced after last week's earthquake that they plan to build more reactors near Bushehr.
Just hours after the earthquake, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation said more reactors would be built there. Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani declared the Bushehr site capable of holding six reactors and said construction of two more units of at least 1,000 megawatts would start there in the "near future".
Because Iran is not a member of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, Gulf officials are particularly concerned about the lack of information available about Iran's own protocols for dealing with any potential natural disaster at the site.
"Iranian officials have tried to calm fears that the earthquake could affect the nuclear reactor. However, their words were far from reassuring," Mr Aluwaisheg wrote in Arab News.
"What has been equally disturbing is the cavalier attitude of Iranian officials following the earthquake, dismissing concerns without providing tangible evidence to the contrary ... Nor are there convincing indications that Iran has contingency plans in case of nuclear accidents at this facility."
Yesterday's emergency meeting in Riyadh follows several high level sessions on emergency management in the region over the past several years. In December 2011, Gulf countries decided to establish a GCC Emergency Management Centre intended to help improve coordination.
Mr Toukan said that early warning systems would prove a vital part of any response plan.
"One of the best things one can do is keep an eye out and have some early warning systems in place to see if there is a risk of contamination in the water or atmosphere," he said.
edickinson@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting from Agence France-Presse, Associated Press and Reuters
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Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Fresh faces in UAE side
Khalifa Mubarak (24) An accomplished centre-back, the Al Nasr defender’s progress has been hampered in the past by injury. With not many options in central defence, he would bolster what can be a problem area.
Ali Salmeen (22) Has been superb at the heart of Al Wasl’s midfield these past two seasons, with the Dubai club flourishing under manager Rodolfo Arrubarrena. Would add workrate and composure to the centre of the park.
Mohammed Jamal (23) Enjoyed a stellar 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League campaign, proving integral to Al Jazira as the capital club sealed the championship for only a second time. A tenacious and disciplined central midfielder.
Khalfan Mubarak (22) One of the most exciting players in the UAE, the Al Jazira playmaker has been likened in style to Omar Abdulrahman. Has minimal international experience already, but there should be much more to come.
Jassim Yaqoub (20) Another incredibly exciting prospect, the Al Nasr winger is becoming a regular contributor at club level. Pacey, direct and with an eye for goal, he would provide the team’s attack an extra dimension.
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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A foster couple or family must:
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Scorecard:
England 458 & 119/1 (51.0 ov)
South Africa 361
England lead by 216 runs with 9 wickets remaining
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
