Thousands of sailors and travelers stranded in the Gulf due to war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, announced on Thursday that tens of thousands of sailors and travelers are still stranded in the waters of the Gulf due to military escalation in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Dominguez explained that about 20,000 sailors in addition to nearly 15,000 maritime travelers are facing difficulties leaving the region, amid restrictions on navigation and rising security tensions.

He pointed out that the continuation of military operations threatens the safety of international navigation and increases risks for commercial and passenger ships that rely on passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important maritime routes for oil and global trade.

These developments come at a time when international concerns are growing about the impact of the ongoing war in the region on global trade and energy movement, especially with the disruption of several shipping lines and rising insurance and maritime transport costs.