UN Urges Evacuation of 6,000 Seafarers Stranded in Hormuz Strait

The United Nations and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are calling for the urgent evacuation and repatriation of approximately 6,000 seafarers trapped on 500 ships moored in the Persian Gulf. The crews are caught in a dire humanitarian crisis following a conflict between the United States and Iran for control of the Strait of Hormuz that began in late February. Since the start of the hostilities, 17 seafarers have been killed, and many others have been abandoned by ship owners without food, water, or wages.

Renewed attacks beginning July 12 have further restricted movement, prompting IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez to warn vessels against attempting to cross the waterway. While the IMO describes the situation as critical, the United States Central Command maintains that the international waterway remains open for transit. To secure the area, U.S. forces have conducted 13 consecutive nights of strikes against Iranian military command centers, drone storage, and maritime capabilities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Iran has continued to attack tankers to demand payment for safe passage. Separately, the UN expressed concern over civilian vessel attacks in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov resulting from Russia's war in Ukraine, noting that 34 vessel workers were killed or injured in the Odesa region during July.