The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources of the Republic of Yemen has strongly condemned the ongoing abuses and violations against Yemeni fishermen working in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which it accused of the Eritrean forces and the Puntland administration, describing these acts as a clear violation of international humanitarian and maritime laws, conventions and agreements.
The ministry said in a statement that Eritrean forces launched a direct armed attack on Yemeni civilian fishermen, using various types of weapons, while they were in the territorial waters of the Republic of Yemen in the Red Sea.
The attack resulted in deaths and injuries, and a number of fishermen were arrested and forcibly taken away.
The ministry described this action as a serious threat to the security and safety of Yemeni fishermen, and targets their livelihoods and their legal right to work and live with dignity.
It also strongly condemned what it described as the illegal detention of the Puntland authorities, particularly officials in the city of Bosaso, where Yemeni fishermen from Hadramawt region were arrested while fishing, and their boats, equipment and fish caught were confiscated.
The Yemeni Ministry of Agriculture held the Eritrean and Puntland governments fully responsible for the legal and humanitarian consequences of the incident, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all arrested fishermen, ensuring their safety, their safe return to their country, and the return of their boats, equipment and all their belongings without any loss, and bringing to justice anyone involved in these violations.
The ministry also called on the United Nations, international organizations, human rights and humanitarian agencies, and all relevant parties to fulfill their legal and moral obligations, clearly condemn these acts, and take immediate action to stop the atrocities against Yemeni fishermen, and ensure their protection in border and international waters.
