1050 Indian fishermen stranded in Iranian waters without food, water; plead for evacuation

“We are afraid. Very afraid. Either the Coronavirus or hunger will get to us first. Once I go back home to Kanyakumari, I’m never leaving to go to any foreign country for any job. I have a wife and two young children to take care of. If I’m not there, who will take care of them. I cannot be irresponsible like that. The Indian government does not care whether we starve or die,” rued Robinson, who is now living on a boat near Bandar-e Chiruiyeh, often called Chiru, in Iranian waters. He has been stuck there on the boat for more than a month

Robinson is one of the 1,050 fishermen stranded around eight islands in Iranian waters. All of them from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Gujarat work on mechanised boats which go into the high seas for months to return with fish. Unlike those fishermen in neighbouring countries such as United Arab Emirates, Indian fishermen in Iran are not given accommodation on land, so they have to reside on boats. This has made it extremely difficult to even get food supplies.

Of those fishermen who are stranded in Iran, at least 700 of them are from Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu. The fishermen here are known for deep-sea and migrant fishing. More than 250 are from Kerala and the rest mostly from Gujarat. They are stranded in Kish Islands, Bushtaneh, Charak, Moqam, Lavan, and Bushehr Asalouyeh.

Iran, which has been hit by a devastating Corona Virus outbreak, is struggling from a severe shortage of medical equipment and medicines as the American trade sanctions take its toll. The country has confirmed 53,183 Corona Virus cases and 3,294 deaths. Iran is also under a lockdown and this has affected the supply of essential materials.

“We have appealed to them so many times. The Embassy officials here do not even respond to our phone calls. Around 15 days ago, after we repeatedly called the Indian Embassies in both Tehran and Bandar Abbas, a local person provided us with rice, onions, potatoes and tomatoes. But, all of that is over now. We now eat only once a day to live,” said Robinson almost tearing up. A few of their Iranian employers have been compassionate enough to send a few supplies, but most have not bothered.

Police was sent to these boats to arrest the captains to stop the fishermen from demanding supplies. “We did not allow the police to arrest the captains. We said that they have to arrest us also if they were going to arrest the captains of the ships. Then they backed off,” said Robinson.

The fishermen had expected the Indian government to evacuate them, just like they had done for the students who were stranded in Iran. “But, we are of much less priority. We are poorer people,” lamented Joseph, who had gone for work to Iran for the first time three months ago. Last month his wife delivered a baby boy who he has been longing to hold in his arms. For that he has to be able to go home after the lockdown is lifted.

“None of the Embassy officials has even visited us once. We have been appealing for more than a month now,” added Joseph.

The South Asian Fishermen Fraternity (SAFF) had written to both the Indian Embassy in Iran and the Ministry of External Affairs about the plight of these fishermen a month ago on March 2 and has sent many follow-up letters since then. “The fishermen are neither able to come out of the fishing harbour to buy their basic items nor can they venture into the sea for fishing. They are facing a short supply of drinking water too. Most of the fishermen who fish in the Iranian waters sell them at the Dubai market, which is now closed due to the lockdown. So, there is no point in fishing either. Selling in the Iranian markets also does not fetch a good price, so no one does it,” said Father Churchill, SAFF general secretary.

The Fishermen's organisation Neithal Eluchi Parawai have also appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs for the evacuation of the fishermen. In the letter, they stated that due to the increasing Covid-19 infection in Iran, they have limited food supplies and because there is no direct flight to India from Iran now, their lives are in danger.

When Fr Susai Sebastian, vicar general of the Delhi archdiocese, called the former tourism minister KJ Alpons, he said that the government was aware of the situation. “We will take it up with the government of India. The fishermen are safe,” Alphons told Fr Sebastian.

When NH contacted Raveesh Kumar, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, he insisted that the reporter must go through the Twitter timeline of the Indian Embassy in Iran. A glance at the timeline of the Indian Embassy in Iran shows that the supplies were sent only on March 20 and that too happened only after the fishermen sent video appeals online.

A source in the ministry was asked when the fishermen would be evacuated just like the students were evacuated, the person said, “Don’t you know what is happening in the country. Haven’t you heard the Prime Minister. You are aware of the restrictions in place. Please understand many people are stuck in many places. It is in the best interest of their health and safety that they follow the restrictions. The embassy officials are also working under challenging circumstances in Iran.”

“Has the Prime Minister announced any plans after April 14. We will see after April 14 as we don’t know what will happen. It is for the government to decide on the future course of action. We don’t know how things will shape up. As of now, evacuation is not possible. Later, we will see if a commercial flight or a flight for evacuation will be sent,” added the MEA source, refusing to give a concrete timeline.