Deep concern over safety of 7 Indians on Houthi-seized ship; Calls for immediate release of crew, ship: India to UNSC
A UN mission said it has spoken to the crew members of a United Arab Emirates-flagged cargo ship that was seized by Houthi rebels off Yemen’s Hodeidah port and carries seven Indians.
“As part of its regular weekly patrol, UNMHA visited As-Salif port and neighboring areas this afternoon. patrol saw Rwabi Spoke to the ship and its crew members remotely,” the United Nations Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) said in a tweet on January 12.
“The UNMHA patrol team also visited the fish market and a local school in As Salif to interact with the local population. No sign of militarization was observed in the patrolled areas,” it said.
India has called for the immediate release of the seven Indian crew members on board the UAE-flagged cargo ship Rwabi It was seized by the Houthis from Yemen’s Hodeidah port earlier this month.
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador TS Tirumurti, speaking at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen on January 13, expressed serious concern over the seizure and detention of the UAE vessel. Rwabi,
Mr Tirumurti “called for the immediate release of the 7 Indian crew members, expressed deep concern about their safety and well-being and that the Houthis should ensure their safety until their release”. India called on all sides of the conflict to immediately cease fighting, defuse the situation and hold unconditional talks with the Office of the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen.
The Ministry of External Affairs said on January 11 that all seven Indian sailors aboard a United Arab Emirates-flagged cargo ship seized by the Houthis from Hodeidah port in Yemen are safe and the government is making all efforts for their early release.
Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India is closely monitoring developments following the seizure of the UAE-flagged ship. Rwabi On 2 January by the Houthis.
“We also understand from the company and other sources that all Indian crew members are safe. The Government of India is making every effort to ensure his early release,” Mr. Bagchi said.
Houthi rebels have a strong presence in parts of Yemen.
“We are in touch with the company operating the ship and we have been informed that out of the 11 crew members on board, seven are from India,” Mr Bagchi said while answering a media query in New Delhi.
“We urge the Houthis to ensure the safety and well-being of the crew members and to release them immediately. India is concerned with the recent escalation of fighting in Yemen and expects all sides to come to the table of negotiations to find a peaceful solution to the Yemen issue.
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