The International Maritime Organization (IMO) wants the creation of a humanitarian corridor in the Strait of Hormuz to remove ships stuck in the Persian Gulf due to the conflict in the Middle East, says a statement adopted this Thursday, March 19.
“I am ready to begin work immediately on negotiations aimed at establishing a humanitarian corridor to evacuate all stranded ships and seafarers,” said IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, at the end of a two-day extraordinary session of the IMO Council that ended today in London.
But, he added, “For this to come to fruition, I will need understanding, commitment and, above all, concrete actions on the part of all countries involved, as well as the sector and relevant UN agencies.”
The IMO, the UN agency responsible for maritime security, estimates that 20,000 crew members are currently on board 3,200 ships trapped in the Persian Gulf due to insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz, blocked by Iran in retaliation for US and Israeli attacks.
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