Islamabad: In a tragic incident, a boat carrying migrants from West Africa to Spain capsized, resulting in the deaths of 50 individuals, including 44 Pakistanis. According to Walking Borders, an organization advocating for migrants' rights, the ill-fated boat departed from Mauritania on January 2, heading for Spain with 86 people onboard.
On Wednesday, Moroccan authorities rescued 36 passengers from the sinking vessel near Morocco's coastal waters. Among the 86 individuals onboard, 66 were Pakistani nationals. Helena Maleno, the CEO of Walking Borders, expressed her grief on social media platform X, stating, "They endured 13 agonizing days at sea with no help coming to their aid."
The Pakistani embassy in Spain has confirmed that the Pakistani mission in Morocco is handling the matter. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the incident and instructed authorities to submit a report. He emphasized the need for strict action against those involved in human trafficking, stating, "Such heinous crimes will not be tolerated, and negligence will not be excused."
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement confirming that their embassy in Rabat is coordinating with Moroccan authorities. A team has been dispatched to the region to assist the survivors, including Pakistani nationals, who are currently housed at a local camp. Additionally, the ministry's Crisis Management Cell has been activated to address the situation.
Walking Borders revealed that in 2024 alone, over 10,457 migrants—approximately 30 daily—died while attempting to reach Spain. Many perished on the perilous Atlantic Ocean route from Africa. The organization claimed to have alerted authorities from multiple nations about the missing boat six days before the tragedy.
Similarly, Alarm Phone, an NGO providing emergency assistance to stranded migrants at sea, reported notifying Spain’s maritime rescue services on January 12. However, rescue services stated they had no prior knowledge of the boat’s whereabouts.
Expressing his condolences, Fernando Clavijo, a leader from Spain's Canary Islands, called on Europe and Spain to take action to prevent further tragedies. In his post on X, he declared, "The Atlantic cannot continue to be Africa’s graveyard. We cannot turn a blind eye to this humanitarian crisis."
This incident follows a similar tragedy in December 2024, when 49 Pakistanis lost their lives in a boat accident near Greece. Despite intensified efforts against human trafficking in Pakistan, the latest incident underscores the ongoing severity of the issue.
