According to the internationally recognized maritime safety portal UKMTO, a tanker was hit by unknown projectiles north of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, on May 4, while a bulk carrier was attacked by multiple small vessels near Iran a day earlier.
Other vessels in the area have received radio instructions to leave their anchorages, reflecting the volatile security environment.
Since the end of February, at least 41 incidents affecting vessels operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman have been reported to the UKMTO.
A computer-generated image shows the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran claimed on Monday that it had attacked a US warship, preventing it from entering the strait, but the US denied there had been any attack. Late Sunday, President Donald Trump said the United States would help ships that have been stranded there for months leave the strait.
UN response
The IMO, the UN maritime agency, is working with the shipping industry on contingency plans, including a possible safe evacuation framework for ships and crews trapped in the conflict zone.
Around 800 ships engaged in international trade – including oil tankers, bulk carriers and container ships – could be involved in such an evacuation, transporting energy supplies and vital commodities.
With an average of 25 crew members per ship, this translates into approximately 20,000 seafarers directly exposed to risks.
Escorts, no solution
“All people – seafarers – on board ships of any type in the Persian Gulf area are vulnerable to any further escalation of the conflict.“The IMO warned, pointing out the risks of missiles, falling debris and possible shortages of food and water on board.
While there have been some crew changes and repatriations (with around 450 seafarers assisted), tens of thousands remain at sea, as the region’s largest fleet approaches 3,000 vessels of all types.
The maritime agency also said naval escorts alone cannot provide a lasting solution, and called for a reduction in tensions and a long-term agreement to ensure safe shipping.
“Naval escorts are not a sustainable solution; a genuine de-escalation and a long-term agreement that ensures the safety of seafarers is the only way forward,” he said.
Tents set up inside a university in Beirut, Lebanon, provide accommodation for people who have been displaced by the conflict.
Lebanon’s health system is under pressure
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, the fragile post-ceasefire environment continues to put pressure on an already weakened health system, with intermittent hostilities and access restrictions disrupting care.
According to the latest update from the UN, health agencies and partners, the situation remains “highly volatile”, particularly in southern areas and locations where displaced people are attempting to return.
The availability of health services is severely limited. Three hospitals and 41 primary health care centers remain non-functional, while several others are only partially functional and focus on emergency care and treatment of chronic diseases.
These limitations are placing intense pressure on remaining facilities, reducing the quality and continuity of care and leaving many communities without access to essential services.
Medicine shortage
Shortages of essential medicines, including treatments for non-communicable diseases, as well as medical supplies, are already putting vulnerable patients at immediate risk.
If deficiencies are not addressed, health officials warn of increased complications, preventable deaths and further deterioration.
Despite these challenges, partners continue to increase support, including tuberculosis screening for displaced people.
More than 750 people have been tested in recent weeks, although humanitarian actors warn that the overall response remains limited by funding and access limitations.