Thursday August 27, 2020
SUPPLIED: The three hostages were released from captivity this week after nearly 6 years of capitivity.
Mogadishu (HOL) - The International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) has welcomed the release of three Iranians held hostage by Somali pirates for nearly five-and-a-half years.
The three men, held by Somali pirates for a total 1,975 days, arrived safely in Tehran on Tuesday. They are the last three crew members of FV Siraj, an Iranian fishing vessel with 19 crew that was hijacked by Somali pirates on 25 March 2015.
ISWAN said it was providing essential humanitarian assistance to the families of the sailors while they were in captivity, including paying school fee's and assisting their elderly parents.
"We are grateful to the United Nations and Hostage Support Partnership for bringing an end to the terrifying ordeal that the hostages went through. With their release, there are no more seafarer hostages in Somalia," the group said in a statement released on their website.
ISWAN's Director of Regions, Chirag Bahri, who was himself once held hostage by Somali pirates, said that he is glad the hardship for the seafarer's family is over.
"The seafarers and their families have suffered immensely during their period of captivity as there was very little communication between them. The families also suffered severe hardship during the five and a half years while their loved ones were in captivity. ISWAN worked with several partners across the globe to help the families with basic livelihood means, education and medical support from piracy relief funds. ISWAN also supported seafarers after their return from captivity with rehabilitation, including psychological support. We wish to thank governments and other organisations who supported the piracy relief funds. Over the years this has enabled some of the seafarers held hostage to return to the sea."
The circumstances of their release remain murky; however, HOL has learned that a retired British navy Colonel, John Steed, may have had a hand to play in securing the men's freedom.
Steed, who worked as a military attache to the British Embassy in Kenya, has secured the release of dozens of hostages since he began his crusade to rescue "forgotten hostages" in 2013.