Over 40 Pakistanis Feared Dead as Migrant Boat Capsizes Off African Coast
More than 40 Pakistani migrants are feared to have drowned after a boat capsized off the West African Atlantic coast, a key departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe
More than 40 Pakistani migrants are feared to have drowned after a boat capsized off the West African Atlantic coast, a key departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe.
Table of Contents
Pakistan Mourns Loss, Calls for Stricter Human Trafficking Measures
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident and stressed the urgent need for stricter measures to combat human trafficking. His statement, issued late Thursday, followed a report by the Spain-based migrant rights group Walking Borders, which claimed that 50 people had died en route to the Canary Islands, including 44 Pakistanis.
Pakistan Confirms Capsizing Near Morocco’s Western Sahara Coast
According to Pakistan’s embassy in Morocco, the ill-fated boat was carrying 80 passengers, including several Pakistanis. It had set sail from Mauritania before capsizing near Dakhla, a Moroccan-controlled port city in Western Sahara.
Migration Crisis: A Growing Global Concern
Every year, millions of people migrate to Europe, with most using legal channels. However, irregular migration remains a serious issue. According to Frontex, the European Union’s border agency, fewer than 240,000 individuals crossed into Europe without proper documentation in 2023.
Urgent Need for Safer Migration Policies
As authorities investigate the tragic shipwreck, international organizations and governments are renewing calls for safer migration routes and stronger policies against human trafficking to prevent future tragedies.
Also Read: Los Angeles Wildfires: Major Progress Made, But the Threat Isn’t Over—What’s Next for the City?