Saudi Arabia has called for the protection of seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, warning of the harsh humanitarian conditions they face and the threats to their basic rights.

The appeal came in a joint statement delivered by Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila, the Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, on behalf of a group of countries from different regions, during the general debate under item four of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council.

The ambassador said the group was deeply concerned by the continuing insecurity and hard living conditions endured by seafarers. Attacks on civilian vessels have killed and injured crew members, he said, and many seafarers still struggle to obtain food, drinking water, fuel, medicine and medical care.

Citing Human Rights Council Resolution 56/18, which recognises seafarers as workers in need of protection and states that they bear no responsibility for their situation, he stressed that their lives, health, safety and dignity must be protected under international law.

The statement welcomed efforts to protect seafarers, singling out humanitarian initiatives by some Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries through their port and maritime authorities, including search and rescue, supplies and medical aid, administrative flexibility and help with crew changes.

Saudi Arabia closed by urging states to protect seafarers in the strait, stressing that their safety is closely tied to secure and unimpeded navigation under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The call comes amid continuing international appeals to protect commercial ships and their crews and to keep navigation in the strait safe.