Pakistani among 50 feared drowned en route to Spain
Islamabad, Hilal Ahmad, 16 January, AZERTAC
At least 50 migrants including many Pakistanis have reportedly drowned while attempting to reach Spain by boat from West Africa. The incident of boat capsizing took place off the Coast of Morocco. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed deep sorrow and regret over the death of more than 40 Pakistanis in the boat accident.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson in a statement on Thursday said that the Embassy of Pakistan in Rabat Morocco has informed that a boat carrying 80 passengers, including several Pakistani nationals, setting off from Mauritania, has capsized near the Moroccan port of Dakhla.
Several survivors, including Pakistanis, are lodged in a camp near Dakhla. The statement added that the Pakistani Embassy in Rabat is in touch with local authorities. Additionally, a team from the Embassy has been dispatched to Dakhla to facilitate the Pakistani nationals and provide necessary assistance.
On the other hand, the Crisis Management Unit (CMU) in the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad has been activated and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister has instructed the relevant Government agencies to extend all possible facilitation to the affected Pakistanis.
As per media reports, Moroccan authorities on Wednesday rescued 36 people from a boat that had departed from Mauritania on January 2. The boat had carried 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis.
The boat left for Spain on January 2, relatives of the drowned Pakistani migrants have said. According to them, the human traffickers had anchored the boat in the sea and were demanding more money from them.
Walking Borders CEO Helena Maleno claimed on X that 44 of those who drowned were from Pakistan. "They spent 13 days of anguish on the crossing without anyone coming to rescue them," she said.
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