MADRID: As many as 50 migrants, many of them Pakistanis, may have drowned in the latest deadly wreck involving people trying to make the crossing from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands, migrant rights group Walking Borders said on Thursday.

Moroccan authorities rescued 36 people on Wednesday from a boat that had left Mauritania on Jan. 2 with 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis, on board, the group said.

Forty-four of those presumed to have drowned were from Pakistan, Walking Borders CEO Helena Maleno said on X.

“They spent 13 days of anguish on the crossing without anyone coming to rescue them,” she said.

Asked about what warnings it had received from NGOs regarding a missing boat, Spain’s maritime rescue service said it had learned on Jan. 10 about a vessel that had left Nouakchott in Mauritania and was experiencing problems but it could not confirm if it was the same boat.

151 illegal immigrants held at Balochistan border

The service said it had carried out air searches without success and had warned nearby ships.

Walking Borders said it had alerted authorities from all countries involved six days ago about the missing boat. Alarm Phone, an NGO that provides an emergency phone line for migrants lost at sea, also said it had alerted Spain’s maritime rescue service on Jan. 12 about a boat in distress.

A record 10,457 migrants, or 30 people a day, died trying to reach Spain in 2024, most while attempting to cross the Atlantic route from West African countries such as Mauritania and Senegal to the Canary islands, according to Walking Borders.

Citing the Walking Borders’ post on X, the Canary Islands’ regional leader Fernando Clavijo expressed his sorrow for the victims of the latest wreck and urged Spain and Europe to act to prevent further tragedies.

“The Atlantic cannot continue to be the graveyard of Africa,” Clavijo said on X. “They cannot continue to turn their backs on this humanitarian drama.”

Last month, at least five Pakistanis were killed when boats capsized in South of Greece.

Earlier in 2023, at least 82 Pakistanis were drowned when a boat sank near Greece.

Pakistan activates Crisis Management Unit

The Crisis Management Unit (CMU) in the Foreign Ministry was activated and the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister instructed the relevant government agencies to extend all possible facilitation to the affected Pakistanis, a FO statement stated.

“Our Embassy in Rabat (Morocco) has informed us, 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. Our Embassy of 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,” the statement read.

Contact Details of the CMU of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad

24/7 Crisis Response Center

Telephone: 051-9207887

E-mail: cmu1@mofa.gov.pk

Contact Details of Embassy of Pakistan, Rabat:

Ms. ⁠Rabia Kasuri (Acting Ambassador): +212 689 52 23 65 (WhatsApp)

⁠ Mr. Noman Ali, Consular Assistant:+92 310 2204672 (WhatsApp)

PM Shehbaz saddened over Morocco migrant boat tragedy

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has expressed grief and sorrow over the tragic boat accident involving migrants travelling from West Africa to Spain.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the prime minister offered prayers for the departed souls, including Pakistani citizens, and prayed for their eternal peace.

He extended heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident.

The prime minister has directed relevant authorities to submit a detailed report on the incident.

He emphasized that strict action will be taken against those involved in the heinous crime of human trafficking.

PM Shehebaz affirmed that no negligence in this matter will be tolerated under any circumstances.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to taking strong measures to combat human trafficking effectively.