UN urges evacuation of 6,000 sailors stranded in Hormuz strait

GENEVA, July 24: The United Nations on Friday called for the safe evacuation and repatriation of some 6,000 sailors stuck in a "dire humanitarian and human rights crisis" in the Strait of Hormuz.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk called for urgent action to remedy the plight of thousands of seafarers caught up in the Middle East war, his spokeswoman ShabiaMantoo said.

The International Maritime Organization has said there are at least 6,000 seafarers on hundreds of vessels who are stranded in the strait, unable to evacuate during the ceasefire. Many others are unaccounted for.

Turk is urging states, ship owners and all other relevant actors to "urgently ensure the protection of stranded seafarers", including through consular assistance and providing essential supplies, "and by facilitating evacuations and repatriations", Mantoo told a press conference in Geneva.�" AFP