2,000 Pinoy sailors await evacuation

MANILA, Philippines — About 2,000 remaining Filipino seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf are looking forward to the evacuation plan of the International Maritime Organization.

The IMO said it plans to evacuate over 11,000 sailors on 500 ships stranded for the past five months since the United States and Israel attacked Iran.

A deal signed by the US and Iran aims to restore maritime security and end attacks against civilian shipping.

Providing ships with instructions for safe departure, the IMO has established two temporary sea lanes to exit the Strait of Hormuz.

Migration expert Manny Geslani said the evacuation plan would bring relief for Filipino seafarers.