Boat carrying many migrants to Spain capsized near Morocco, more than 40 Pakistani citizens killed – boat carrying many migrants to Spain capsized near Morocco killing many Pakistani citizens ntc
Pakistan informed on Thursday that a boat trying to reach Spain carrying 80 migrants capsized near Morocco, killing more than 40 Pakistani citizens. Migrant rights group Walking Borders said more than 50 migrants had drowned.
Moroccan authorities had a day earlier rescued 36 people after a boat capsized which had set sail from Mauritania on January 2 carrying 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis. Walking Borders CEO Helena Maleno said on Twitter that 44 of those who drowned were believed to be from Pakistan.
‘Our embassy is in touch with local authorities’
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that its embassy in Morocco is in touch with local authorities. The ministry said in a statement, ‘Our Embassy in Rabat (Morocco) has informed us that a boat carrying 80 passengers, including several Pakistani nationals, which had departed from Mauritania, has capsized near the port of Dakhla, Morocco. . Many survivors, including Pakistanis, are staying in a camp near Dakhla.
Shahbaz Sharif asked for report on the incident from officials
The statement said that an embassy team has been sent to Dakhla to facilitate and provide necessary assistance to Pakistani citizens, while the Crisis Management Unit in the Ministry of External Affairs has been activated.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar directed the concerned government agencies to provide all possible assistance to the affected Pakistanis. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sought a report on the incident from the authorities and said that strict action will be taken against those involved in the heinous act of human trafficking.
