DHAKA: The Joint United Nations and Government of Bangladesh Sunderbans Oil Spill Response Mission suggested that the traffic through the Sunderbans should be avoided.

The committee made the suggestion in a press briefing at a city hotel in the afternoon.

The committee also said that the full report will be published on January 15 of 2015.

The committee took aerial photographs, interviewed local people, observed the areas and used other methods to collect data to reach at conclusion.

In the summary findings of Sunderbans Oil Spill Assessment, the committee said, “From an environmental perspective, traffic through the valued and biodiverse Sunderbans World Heritage Site should be avoided”.

The mission observed that “there is limited immediate environmental impact to the mangrove and acquatic ecosystems” and commended the “local communities and the Government of Bangladesh, particularly the Forest Department”.

The report also said, “Timely tidal variations and the decision to ban tanker traffic in the river minimized the penetration of oil into the ecosystem”.

Terming the environmental emergencies like oil spills and industrial accidents as a particular type of emergency, the mission said “existing knowledge and solid disaster management experience can be used to strengthen the country’s preparedness for technological disasters”.

The mission, however, said, “From an environmental perspective, traffic through the valued and biodiverse Sunderbans World Heritage Site should be avoided.”

It added, “While a number of factors limited the impact of the spill, the shipping of oil through a sensitive environment presents a serious risk to both environment and the communities that depend on it for their livelihoods-appropriate safeguard and mitigation measures need to be put in place before opening the route to traffic.”

On December 9, an oil tanker Southern Star-7, carrying 357,000 liters of furnace oil, was sunk in Shela River of Sundarbans as a cargo vessel hit it, leading huge oil spill in rivers and adjacent areas of the mangrove forest.

In response to a request from the government of Bangladesh, the UN system in the country mobilized an international team of experts to support the government’s cleanup efforts of the oil spilled in the Sundarbans.

The government of Bangladesh requested UNDP on December 15 to support government’s efforts.

BDST: 2039 HRS, DEC 31, 2014