The United Nations wants to help hundreds of thousands of seafarers stuck on their ships because of the coronavirus pandemic. In a resolution passed by 193 countries yesterday, the UN member states will call for seafarers to be classified as systemically important.
The aim is to ensure that the around 400,000 stranded seafarers return to their home countries despite the global travel restrictions and that the crews of the ships can be replaced.
UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres had already drawn attention to the desperate situation of the stranded seafarers in June. According to him, 80 percent of global trade is carried out by ship, including medicines, food and other essential supplies that are urgently needed in the fight against the pandemic.
