Saudi Arabia calls for urgent protection of seafarers stranded in Strait of Hormuz

Saudi Arabia has called for immediate action to safeguard seafarers trapped in the Strait of Hormuz, citing the dire humanitarian situation and possible infringement on their basic rights. This plea was conveyed through a joint statement by Saudi Arabia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila, on behalf of a diverse coalition of countries at the UN Human Rights Council's 63rd session in Geneva.

The statement expressed profound worry over the persistent insecurity and arduous living circumstances affecting seafarers. Bin Khothaila detailed the casualties and injuries sustained by crew members following attacks on civilian ships, as well as the ongoing struggles of seafarers to obtain necessities like food, water, fuel, medicine, and medical care.

The statement referenced UN Human Rights Council Resolution 56/18, which asserts that seafarers are a protected category of workers and emphasizes their responsibility for their own precarious circumstances. It underscored the necessity of ensuring their safety, health, well-being, and dignity in line with international law. The joint statement applauded the endeavors of pertinent parties in shielding seafarers, particularly the humanitarian initiatives launched by certain Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations via their port and maritime authorities.

These measures comprised search and rescue efforts, the supply of essential goods and medical aid, flexibility in administrative processes, and the facilitation of crew transfers. The statement urged nations to safeguard seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that their protection is fundamentally tied to maintaining secure and uninterrupted maritime traffic, as mandated by international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

This follows mounting calls from the international community for the protection of commercial ships and seafarers and for ensuring the safety of navigation in the Strait.