20,000 Sailors Trapped in Persian Gulf as Forgotten Victims of War

Approximately 20,000 sailors aboard 1,500 ships have been stranded in the Persian Gulf for over ten weeks due to the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and a concurrent American blockade of Iranian ports. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has criticized the global indifference toward these maritime workers, who are considered collateral victims of the Middle East conflict. While crews docked in Gulf monarchies receive supplies and occasional relief, those in Iranian territorial waters face severe challenges due to damaged port infrastructure and isolation. Shipowners, lacking official diplomatic channels, are engaging in improvised negotiations with Iranian authorities to secure passage or evacuate crews. This vacuum has enabled war profiteers to establish fake agencies selling fraudulent transit authorizations. Union officials report difficulty in obtaining testimony from sailors, who are instructed by shipowners to avoid media contact. The situation remains critical, particularly for employees of unscrupulous operators, highlighting a growing humanitarian crisis amidst the geopolitical standoff.