The Tartus governorate, in cooperation with the Environmental Directorate, Solid Waste Management Administration, Arwad and Tartus municipalities, and the local community, organized a clean-up campaign on Arwad Island today, Monday. The campaign involved sanitation workers, residents, and school students, aiming to reduce pollution, enhance environmental awareness, and promote a culture of voluntary work, in observance of Arab Environment Day and National Environment Day.
Tartus Environmental Director, Mohammad Saleh, clarified that the campaign aims to highlight the importance of Arwad Island as the only island on the Syrian coast and a tourist destination. He emphasized that maintaining its cleanliness contributes to preserving local heritage and boosting tourism. He pointed out that plastic waste is among the most prominent sources of danger to beaches due to the damage it causes to natural habitats and marine breeding sites, noting that chemical pollutants threaten living organisms and disrupt ecological balance.
For her part, Arwad Municipality President, Fatima Kanfani, explained that the campaign started from the Nabaa area in the south of the island, covering boat manufacturing sites, the southern corniche, and extending to the vicinity of schools. She added that waste was collected in designated bags and transported by a municipal truck to the Al-Ma'ouna marine facility, designated for transferring the island's waste to Tartus, and then to the Wadi Al-Hada site, following the mechanism applied every two or three days. She also mentioned the distribution of awareness brochures to residents and schools, along with issuing warnings to maintain cleanliness.
The campaign comes within the framework of environmental activities marking Arab Environment Day on October 14 and National Environment Day on November 1. Its goals are to reduce pollution, enhance environmental awareness, and protect the marine environment, with follow-up of results coordinated with Arwad Municipality and the Solid Waste Management Administration through periodic waste removal and field visits to assess cleanliness.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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