Fishermen and migrant workers from Kerala, India, are facing severe disruptions as escalating conflict in the Gulf region has rendered their traditional employment routes untenable. The outbreak of war earlier this year has left boats stranded at sea, markets closed, and thousands of expatriates reconsidering their futures abroad.
Thaddeus Veetis, a 52-year-old fisherman from Vizhinjam village, Kerala, experienced the crisis firsthand. In February, shortly after returning to the Iranian coast where he fished, Veetis and his crew lost all communication while at sea. Navigating by the stars, they spent four days adrift amid missile strikes targeting Kish Island in Iran and the city of Dubai, where they typically sold their catch. The ongoing bombardments split the Gulf into hostile zones, forcing Veetis and his crew to flee offshore despite the uncertainties. “We believed if we stayed we would all be killed,” he recalled.
Veetis had spent nearly a decade fishing along Iran’s coastline, part of a longstanding migration trend from Kerala to Gulf countries. This movement of labor, which peaked with two million Kerala residents working across the Middle East, has been a cornerstone of Kerala’s economic development, fueling investments in housing, education, and healthcare. Migrant workers traditionally earned significant income—Veetis cited daily commissions between 30,000 and 40,000 rupees (approximately £234-312)—which were sent home, sustaining families and local economies.
However, recent conflicts have disrupted these patterns. Another Kerala migrant worker, Besin Babu, had been employed in a bakery in Abha, Saudi Arabia, when the war began. With the exodus of tourists and fellow expatriates, Babu’s customer base vanished, prompting his return to his hometown of Yeroor in Kerala’s Kollam district. He has since shifted to running a local spice-grinding business. Like many others, Babu faces the reality that Gulf economies do not offer pathways to permanent residency for foreign workers, limiting long-term prospects.
The Kerala government has noted a sharp decrease in new migrant applications to Gulf countries since the conflict erupted. Rajesh Madhavan, head of the state’s Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs, described the situation as a significant blow to the traditional labor export model. Many Keralans fear a protracted conflict that could indefinitely undermine migration opportunities and economic ties.
After months at sea following the airstrikes, Veetis and hundreds of other Indian fishermen were eventually evacuated through Armenia. His family had to borrow money to cover his repatriation costs, an expense he acknowledges exposed the vulnerabilities of migrant workers caught in geopolitical turmoil. Despite returning to financial hardship, Veetis has resolved not to return to Gulf waters. “There just are no prospects there any more,” he said. “The states have become enemies of each other so that route is no longer possible.”
The crisis marks a new chapter in a migration history punctuated by past shocks, including the Gulf War in 1991, the 2008 financial crash, and the COVID-19 pandemic. For communities like Vizhinjam and Yeroor, the ongoing conflict threatens not only livelihoods but also the economic networks that have underpinned Kerala’s development for generations.