The Russia-Ukraine and US-Iran conflicts are causing more and more victims among seafarers due to of the escalation of attacks that have taken place in recent days against merchant ships in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov and in the region of the Strait of Hormuz. The Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, has again expressed condemnation for "all unjustified attacks against ships resulting from geopolitical conflicts, wherever verify. Such acts - he reiterated - endanger the threaten the safety of navigation, disrupt supply chains and undermine the principles on which transport is based international maritime system".

A new condemnation was also expressed by the International Transport Workers' Federation: "The ITF and all the seafarers' unions affiliated with us - said the Secretary-General of the International Union of Workers' Stephen Cotton - are deeply concerned about the tragic and shameful attacks against merchant ships that took place on the last week. We all express our deep condolences for Indian seafarer killed in last night's attack on Mombasa B, our hope that the missing Indian seafarer of the GFS Galaxy is found alive and we offer our support to all those injured in these attacks."

"The escalation of the conflict that we are unfortunately witnessing near the Strait of Hormuz - continued Cotton - is once again costing the lives of innocent seafarers and it must end now. And while attacks are increasing in the countries of the region, workers in the transport are once again involved in this conflict that did not cause: airport workers, truck drivers, fishermen, Port workers and many others are all at serious risk. Numerous merchant ships in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea have been hit last week, causing the suspension of all Sea of Azov, while the port of Odessa is also under attack. Here too, as in recent months, we fear the loss of human lives among innocent civilian seafarers".

"Whatever the conflict, wherever it takes place," he said. concluded the Secretary General of the ITF - the civilian workers of the transport must be protected. We are very concerned about the cost of fuel, due to the impact of these conflicts on inflation and on our economies, but let us remember that they are the transport workers to connect the various elements of the economy and to move our world forward. Without them, everything would collapse. We call on all parties involved in these conflicts to cease attacks on transport workers, ease the tension and immediately return to diplomacy".