Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has announced the launch of an intensive verification process to confirm whether a Filipino sailor was among the crew members of the Dutch cargo ship Minervagracht, which came under a suspected attack in the Gulf of Aden. Several sailors were reportedly injured and were immediately evacuated.
A statement issued by the Philippine Ports Authority on September 30 said that the attack—suspected to have been carried out by Yemen’s Houthis—resulted in injuries to several individuals on board, though their nationalities have not yet been officially confirmed.
The DMW confirmed that investigations are ongoing in coordination with the vessel’s operators, recruitment agencies, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, and relevant Philippine consulates.
The agency noted that if the presence of a Filipino sailor is confirmed, full medical support will be provided, along with assistance for repatriation if necessary, as well as psychological counseling and legal aid for the sailors and their families.
The department attached a solidarity message in Filipino to its statement, addressed to sailors and their families: “To the sailors and their families: You are not alone. The government is with you. With you, DMW.” This, it stressed, highlights the state’s commitment to providing full support in such difficult circumstances.
The Philippine Maritime Industry Authority reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the protection of Filipino sailors working in high-risk zones such as the Gulf of Aden, a strategic passage linking the Red Sea with the Arabian Sea, which has seen a rise in armed activity and piracy in recent years.
Reports indicated that Yemen’s Houthis have launched repeated attacks on ships and facilities in the Red Sea in response to Israeli operations in Gaza, framing them as acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.
The Philippines is one of the world’s largest suppliers of seafarers, with Filipinos accounting for over a quarter of the global maritime workforce. According to 2024 statistics, at least 500,000 Filipino sailors were deployed overseas.
The DMW said it continues to monitor developments and will issue official updates once details about the sailors’ health status or identities are confirmed.
The Gulf of Aden remains one of the world’s most dangerous shipping routes due to ongoing armed conflicts in Yemen and Somalia, making it a sensitive focal point for both diplomacy and maritime security.
