The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has said that a Filipino sailor and 10 other crewmen of a United Arab Emirates-flagged vessel seized by Iran-backed Houthi rebels last week are alive.
It said negotiations are ongoing for their release.
DFA spokesman Ed Meñez said, “As far as I am aware, everyone seems to be ok so far.”
Seven of the ship Rwabee’s crew are Indian and the others come from Ethiopia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines and the rebels claimed they seized the Rwabee in Yemeni waters and have released video which they say shows military equipment on board.
“We have initial reports about the hijacking and media has confirmed one Filipino onboard. The Philippines is not the lead in negotiations, and in these situations, authorities don’t want info released,” Meñez said.
In a statement to the United Nations, the UAE government denounced the hijacking. The country called it an “act of piracy.”
“We condemn, in the strongest terms, the Houthi act of piracy against the civilian cargo vessel ‘RWABEE’ off the port of Hodeidah,” said Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN. “This is a dangerous escalation against the safety of maritime navigation in the Red Sea. It requires the adoption of a firm position by the Security Council. We thank all countries who have issued statements condemning this act of piracy.”
Ambassador Nusseibeh emphasised that making progress in ending the crisis in Yemen will not be possible until Houthi militias cease hostilities and repeated violations against the Yemeni people. She also strongly condemned the Houthis’ attempt to target the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s territory using drones and ballistic missiles as a flagrant violation of international law.
