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 The UAE condemns the hijacking of an oil tanker and affirms its solidarity with Egypt.

The UAE condemned the hijacking of an oil tanker, carrying a number of Egyptian sailors, while it was sailing off the Yemeni coast. The tanker was subsequently taken to Somali territorial waters. The UAE affirmed that these criminal acts pose a direct threat to maritime security and the safety of international trade routes.

In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed the UAE's "full solidarity with the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt and with the families of the kidnapped sailors, and its support for efforts aimed at ensuring their safety and securing their release." The Ministry stressed "the importance of intensifying international efforts to combat piracy and organized crime in vital maritime corridors."

The Ministry also affirmed that "maritime security is a fundamental pillar for the stability of the global economy and international trade," reiterating the UAE's position calling for enhanced regional and international cooperation to protect commercial vessels, ensure the safety of maritime crews, and maintain the security and stability of maritime navigation.

Overnight, a small oil tanker became the scene of a complex humanitarian crisis after being hijacked at sea early last month. The ship, with a crew of 12, including eight Egyptians and four Indians, was taken to the Somali coast. Since then, all contact with the vessel has been lost, and fragmented details have begun to emerge through families and limited communication channels, revealing a reality akin to forced detention under extremely harsh conditions.

Amira Mohamed, wife of marine engineer Mohamed Radi, one of the kidnapped crew members, recounted the details of what happened to Sky News Arabia. She confirmed that she first learned of the hijacking through a Facebook post after noticing the ship's name in a circulating post. This marked the beginning of a period of anxiety before the information was confirmed.

Four days after the incident, specifically on May 6th, she received her first call from her husband. It was a very brief call, lasting less than a minute, after the hijackers allowed him to use his phone. He told her that the ship had been hijacked near the Yemeni coast and that they had been taken to Somalia under harsh detention conditions.

She adds that "his words were shocking, as he spoke of a severe shortage of food and water, mistreatment, and a large number of armed kidnappers." He also told her that "the situation is deteriorating over time, supplies are almost non-existent, and the crew is living under constant pressure with no clarity about their fate."

The Ship's Cook: He Hasn't Seen His Infant Daughter

In a tragic story, Ahmed Khamis Shaaban, cousin of one of the kidnapped men, Adham Salem Shaaban, who works as a cook on board the ship, revealed that the last information they received from inside the vessel indicated a near-total absence of basic necessities. They had run out of water and food, and the crew was later forced to rely on condensation from the air conditioning as their almost sole source of drinking water due to the lack of supplies. Khamis stated that the crisis extends beyond the captivity itself, as negotiations between the company and the kidnappers have stalled, leaving the crew in limbo with no decisive intervention.