The United Nations has called on countries involved in the Middle East war to help repatriate around 6,000 sailors who remain stranded on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

UN rights chief Volker Türk called on states to urgently provide consular assistance to stranded seafarers, deliver essential supplies, and “facilitate safe passage for stranded seafarers to safely evacuate and disembark.”

“Attacks against civilian vessels are unacceptable and must stop. They are protected under international humanitarian law,” Türk’s spokesperson told reporters. “Seafarers remain exposed to hostilities as deadly attacks in the strait continue, facing imminent risks of death or harm.”

The UN rights office said 17 ship crew members had been reported killed since the conflict erupted in late February.
It said at least 93 other sailors, across nine ships, had been abandoned at sea by their ship owners, dw.com teports.

“Thee seafarers have been left on their ships to fend for themselves without food, water, fuel, medical care, electricity or means to communicate with their families,” Türk’s spokesperson said.