On the frontlines: How Indian sailors are paying the price in Middle East war
Indian merchant sailors are facing severe risks as they navigate conflict zones in the Middle East, including the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. Thousands have been repatriated, but many remain in dangerous waters, with reports of fatalities and injuries among the workforce.
Why it matters
It underscores the human cost of geopolitical conflict on global supply chains and the specific vulnerability of the Indian maritime workforce.
For thousands of Indian merchant seafarers, the Middle East war has transformed the sea from a workplace into a battlefield.They are not soldiers. They are civilians who keep global trade moving, transporting oil, fuel and essential cargo through some of the world's busiest shipping lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea. But since the US-Israel war with Iran erupted on February 28, many have found themselves navigating through missile strikes, drone attacks and naval hostilities.Some never made it home. Indian sailors have been killed in attacks on commercial vessels. Others have been injured or stranded at sea for weeks, unable to escape the conflict.
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