The United Nations has asked the countries involved in the Middle East war to help with a safe evacuation and the return of around six thousand sailors trapped in the Strait of Hormuz.

🔸Shabia Mantou, the spokesperson for Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, announced that he called for urgent action to address the situation of thousands of sailors who have been caught up in the Middle East war.

🔸Türk described the situation of these sailors as a “serious human rights and humanitarian crisis.”

🔸The International Maritime Organization said that at least six thousand sailors, aboard hundreds of ships, have been left stranded in the Strait of Hormuz and that even during the ceasefire period between Iran and the United States and Israel, evacuation was not possible. According to this report, there is no information about the fate of many others.

🔸At a press briefing in Geneva, Mantou said that Türk has asked governments, ship owners, and all relevant parties to “immediately protect the stranded sailors.”

🔸He also referred to assistance including providing consular services, meeting essential needs, and “facilitating the evacuation and return of them to their countries.”

🔸The UN spokesperson for Türk also said, regarding Iran’s attacks on civilian ships: “Attacks on civilian ships are unacceptable and must be stopped. These ships are protected under international humanitarian law.”

🔸According to him, since the outbreak of hostilities, at least 17 sailors have lost their lives.

🔸The UN Human Rights Office also said that some ship owners have left sailors at sea and have abandoned them without any support, leaving them without the possibility to return to their country or even receive wages; including the crews of at least nine ships with a total of 93 people.