India Repatriates 4,000 Seafarers as West Asia Conflict Worsens

India brought home more than 4,000 stranded Indian seafarers as the West Asia conflict disrupted Red Sea and Gulf shipping, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said Saturday.

Speaking at a stakeholder event in New Delhi, Sonowal said the government coordinated the safe return of over 4,048 seafarers. Captain Bipen Kumar, delivering a presentation on seafarer security, put the number at 4,076 as of Aug. 6. The Directorate General of Maritime Administration monitored more than 16,000 calls and handled over 40,000 communications during the effort, the ministry said.

The repatriation came as the Iran war entered its second week. On Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs condemned the sinking of an Indian-flagged vessel, MSV Faize Noore Oliya, off the coast of Yemen. All 13 Indian nationals on board were rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the safety of Indian vessels and seafarers is of "high importance" and that Indian missions across the Gulf region are operating 24/7 helplines.