Syrian Sailors Detained Off Somalia Urgently Appeal as Supplies Run Out

Syrian sailors detained off the Somali coast aboard the hijacked vessel "Sward" issued an urgent appeal after about two months in captivity, saying supplies are running out and patients have no medicine.

“Syrian sailors aboard a hijacked vessel off the Somali coast issued an urgent appeal, asking the relevant authorities to intervene for their release, after about two months in captivity, amid difficult living and health conditions due to a dwindling stock of food, water, and medicine”

Al-Jazeera Net

In a video clip circulated on social media, one crew member said: "We are 16 Syrian sailors on board this ship, we have spent two full months in detention without any contact with the outside world or Internet access."

Al-Jazeera Net

Another crew member added: "Two months on board the vessel without adequate food, drink or medicine, and some suffer from chronic diseases requiring medical care."

The Syrian Sailors Union at Sea issued a statement on 28 April addressed to the families of the detained sailors, saying it "has been in direct contact with the ship owners since the early hours."

The statement also confirmed that "it has been verified that all crew are safe, no injuries or abuse have been recorded (…) and negotiations are ongoing for the release of the ship and the crew."

The European naval force said on 26 April that it is monitoring the hijacking of the merchant ship "Sward," while the British Maritime Trade Operations authority confirmed that the hijacking occurred at a distance of 6 nautical miles northeast of the Somali coastal town of غرعد.

The Al-Jazeera Net account says the captors facilitated filming and posting the scene to exert further pressure, while the detainees said they cannot access the Internet.

An-Nahar

It also describes the situation as difficult living and health conditions due to a dwindling stock of food, water, and medicine after the sailors’ detention began.

The same report places the incident within a series of piracy operations targeting merchant ships off the Somali coast in recent times, reviving risks of maritime piracy that the region had previously experienced.

According to information from the ship-tracking and maritime navigation platform "VesselFinder", the last AIS report came 64 days ago for the 28-year-old vessel flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

While the Syrian sailors’ appeal emphasized chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure and the lack of adequate food, drink or medicine, the Syrian Sailors Union at Sea said it has verified the crew are safe and that negotiations are ongoing.

“Families of Egyptian sailors abducted aboard the oil tanker MT Eureka, which had been seized by pirates off the Yemeni coast, were struck with panic after a recent video circulated showing three of their sons bound inside the vessel, which had been driven into Somali territorial waters”

Asharq Al-Awsat

The union’s 28 April statement to families said it "has been in direct contact with the ship owners since the early hours," and it added that "negotiations are ongoing for the release of the ship and the crew."

The report frames the captors’ use of social media as pressure, noting the detainees said they cannot access the Internet and that filming and posting were facilitated by the captors.

In parallel, the European naval force’s monitoring and the British Maritime Trade Operations authority’s confirmation of the hijacking location underscore that authorities are tracking the "Sward" after the incident near غرعد.

The report ties the episode to broader maritime insecurity off Somalia, describing it as part of a series of piracy operations targeting merchant ships that has revived risks of maritime piracy in the region.