ISLAMABAD: At least 44 Pakistani migrants are believed to have drowned while attempting to reach Spain from West Africa, according to the migrant rights group Walking Borders on Thursday.
The boat, carrying 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis, departed from Mauritania on January 2. Moroccan authorities rescued 36 survivors on Wednesday, but more than 50 migrants are feared lost at sea.
Human Traffickers and Delayed Rescue
Relatives of the victims reported that human traffickers had anchored the boat and demanded additional money from the passengers. The boat drifted at sea for 13 days, with no rescue despite alerts raised by Walking Borders and Alarm Phone, an NGO supporting migrants in distress.
Spain’s maritime rescue service was notified on January 12, but claimed to have no information on the boat.
Global Condolences and Calls for Action
Fernando Clavijo, regional leader of the Canary Islands, called the Atlantic Ocean a “graveyard” and urged Spain and Europe to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Walking Borders CEO Helena Maleno lamented the tragic loss, confirming the Pakistani death toll.
Record Deaths and Ongoing Crisis
In 2024 alone, 10,457 migrants died trying to reach Spain, with many following dangerous Atlantic routes from West Africa to the Canary Islands. The tragedy follows a similar incident in December 2024, when over 80 Pakistani migrants drowned near Greece.
Pakistani Government’s Response
Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed the capsizing near Morocco’s Dakhla port and dispatched a team from the Rabat Embassy to assist survivors. A Crisis Management Unit has been activated, and authorities pledged full support to affected families.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow, vowing strict action against human traffickers. PM Shehbaz called for strong anti-smuggling measures, warning that negligence would not be tolerated.
The heartbreaking incident highlights the dire need for international cooperation and more robust measures to curb human smuggling and ensure migrant safety.