Aqaba, Sept. 29 (Petra) – The coastal city of Aqaba on Tuesday hosted the Aqaba Beach Cleanup Campaign 2026 under the slogan "The Wave Continues," uniting governmental bodies, international organizations, students, and community volunteers to protect the marine ecosystem in the Gulf of Aqaba.

The campaign was organized by Oxfam in Jordan under the project to provide solid waste management services in the Zaatari and Azraq camps and surrounding host communities, funded by the European Union, with the participation of the European Regional Cooperation Programme for the Mediterranean Basin (Interreg NEXT MED), and in cooperation with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), the Aqaba Marine Reserve, the Directorate of Education, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jordan.

Marine activities were carried out by the Royal Naval Force and Royal Boats Command, the Aqaba Civil Defense Directorate, and its diving teams, alongside schools, students, local associations, and volunteers, contributing to the organized and safe implementation of the events.

Commissioner for Environment and Public Safety Affairs at ASEZA Nedal Al Ouran stressed the importance of long-term partnerships with international organizations and development institutions, noting continued work with Oxfam to develop projects that enhance solid waste management and support the national campaign to reduce random dumping of waste and spread sound environmental practices.

Oxfam Country Director in Jordan Dmitry Medlev said protecting the marine environment requires continuity of work, effective partnerships, and community participation, explaining that the "The Wave Continues" campaign aims to transform environmental awareness into tangible action and promote responsible practices in waste management.

Coordinator of the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Cooperation Office at Interreg NEXT MED Ismat Karadsheh pointed to the importance of cross-border cooperation in supporting sustainable development and addressing shared environmental challenges, noting that the program currently supports 59 projects worth 120 million euros, with the participation of about 500 organizations.

For her part, UNDP Resident Representative in Jordan Randa Abu Al-Hassan affirmed that the program's participation in the campaign reflects its commitment to turning the circular economy concept into practical reality through the 9Rs principles and the establishment of the Creative Circular Economy Center with EU funding, contributing to green job creation and the protection of natural resources in Aqaba.

The campaign included an awareness session on plastic pollution and the impact of cigarette butts on the environment, a presentation of previous seabed cleanup campaigns under the Blue Team initiative, the planting of 30 trees and distribution of agricultural tools, the installation of 12 waste containers, and the implementation of the "Draw Your Project Idea" activity to propose innovative solutions to reduce the impact of cigarette butts.

The campaign's slogan "The Wave Continues" reflects the importance of continuing environmental work and transforming awareness into daily practices that contribute to preserving the marine environment and the resources of the Gulf of Aqaba for future generations.

//Petra// AF