Qatar- Zekreet beach clean up drive on Thursday

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) A group of volunteers in Qatar will head to Zikreet on Thursday (March 4) for another beach clean-up drive aimed at protecting the environment and raising public awareness on the dangers of plastic pollution.

The event, organised by Doha Environmental Actions Project (Deap Qatar) in collaboration with Qatar Museums (QM), is a family and child-friendly undertaking. Slots are limited due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Volunteers are required to bring their QIDs or passports, and drive their respective vehicles as part of the Covid-19 precautionary measures.

According to the organisers, 'Green Ehteraz, wearing a face mask, and social distancing are mandatory. They also advised volunteers to bring their own gloves (work or gardening gloves are recommended). Anyone under 18 years-old must be accompanied by an adult.

'Dress properly: Be respectful of local culture. Shoulders covered, no small shorts. Long shorts or pants are preferred. Don't forget sun protection. Bring your food and drinks. Due to Covid-19 sharing food is discouraged, organisers stressed.

Several organisations and institutions in Qatar held beach clean-up activities at Zekreet in recent years to protect and preserve marine life in the area.

Such campaigns and initiatives aim to encourage visitors to keep the beach clean by disposing their wastes properly and to raise public awareness on the key role that volunteers play in protecting the environment.

In December last year, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment's General Cleanliness Department also organised a two-month comprehensive cleaning campaign at the northwestern beaches of Qatar. The three-phase beach clean-up drive, stretching more than 150kms, started at Abu Zallouf city and ended at to Zekreet.

Deap Qatar also held a beach clean-up event at Rawda (Desert Meadow) to mark Qatar National Environment Day on February 26. Volunteers and personnel from Albaladiya were able to collect 700kg of trash in the area.

Prior to this event, Deap Qatar also held similar activities recently, including a clean-up drive at Al Zubarah with Qatar Museums chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and other representatives from other institutions. Some 15 volunteers from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar also took part in a clean-up drive on Wednesday (March 3) at Al Thakira, collecting 80kg of wastes.

'Another great clean up. Given Covid-19 restrictions, numbers were small, but progress big, said Deap Qatar on its social media pages, thanking volunteers and other participants.

MENAFN03032021000067011011ID1101694753