UN implores nations to find ways to bring 300,000 stranded mariners home

[Mary Wilson]

By THERESA BRAINE

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS |
SEP 24, 2020 AT 10:13 PM

The United Nations chief on Thursday implored countries to cooperate in repatriating 300,000 stranded mariners who have been stuck at sea throughout the pandemic, some of whom have not been home in a year or more.

Working back-to-back 12-hour shifts, often without weekends, the merchant mariners are buckling under the strain — which could have a disastrous effect on the global supply chain, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday.
“Mariners are human beings first, and should be treated as such,” Marzougui said.

Echoing the humanitarian concerns of Guterres, the Consumer Goods Forum warned, “The situation has also inadvertently created a modern form of forced labor.”

https://www.nydailynews.com/coronav...0200925-waw4uzlkbjekbg5jvwhwl7q5h4-story.html

 

[sharon sanders]

Unbelievable.

 

[Emily]

"The plea came amid bickering between the U.S., China and Russia over the pandemic response in general, the Associated Press reported."

That's shameful. France and Kenya are proposing practical solutions. When our fearless superpower leaders realize they can't replace their fancy ice cream coolers and ovens with even the most basic of appliances, they will wake up - in the early 20th century!

"“Seafarers are essential workers that keep global supply chains functioning,” said Unilever’s Chief Supply Chain Officer, Marc Engel, in a statement from Global Compact, the UN consortium of business leaders seeking sustainable commerce. “Without them, there are no masks, no COVID tests, no hand sanitizers, or other essential goods. There is no food, there is no medicine. These supply chains are on the verge of serious disruption.”"