Abandoned at Sea: Thousands of Sailors Still Trapped in the Persian Gulf

About 6,000 seafarers are stranded on hundreds of vessels in the Persian Gulf due to the fighting in the Strait of Hormuz. The UN calls for urgent action to rescue them, warning that some have been abandoned without food, water, or medical care. Nine ships have been completely abandoned since the start of the war. A rescue operation was suspended after an attack in the Gulf of Oman.

About 6,000 seafarers remain stranded on hundreds of vessels in the Persian Gulf, unable to evacuate due to ongoing fighting in the Strait of Hormuz. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Friday for urgent action, warning that some sailors have been abandoned by their employers without food, water, medical care, electricity, or contact with their families. According to the International Maritime Organization, nine ships with at least 93 crew members have been completely abandoned since the start of the war. Some are in Iranian ports or near the strait. The UN said the sailors face "prolonged isolation and confinement in a war zone." The danger is not theoretical: two Indian seafarers were killed last week in a drone attack, and in June three Indian sailors were killed in a US strike. The crisis began with the outbreak of the war and movement restrictions in the strait. In April, the International Labour Organization estimated that about 20,000 seafarers were stranded. A rescue operation launched during the ceasefire was suspended on June 25 after an attack in the Gulf of Oman. The UN and shipping organizations demand a safe corridor and immediate supplies.