Nine Filipino crew members who were taken by Yemen’s Houthis following an attack in the Red Sea in July are set to be released, according to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and local sources, reports Container News.
Seafarers to be released
The seafarers survived the strike on the commercial vessel and were later shown in a video released by the Houthis, who claimed they had “rescued” several crew members and moved them to a secure location.
The DFA confirmed that Oman has informed Philippine authorities that the Filipinos will be transferred from Sanaa, Yemen, to Muscat, Oman, before being brought home. Their release follows diplomatic efforts by Oman in coordination with the Philippine government. DFA Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro discussed the incident with her Omani counterpart during a bilateral meeting in July and again during a follow-up call in November.
The Philippine Embassy in Muscat and the Migrant Workers Office in the city are preparing arrangements for the safe and swift return of the crew. The DFA expressed gratitude to the Sultanate of Oman for its assistance.
The July attacks ended a period of relative calm in Houthi activity in the Red Sea, a vital maritime corridor that carries roughly 12% of global trade.
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Source: Container News
