Food, water run out for Pakistani sailors held by Somali pirates

Sailors, including 10 Pakistanis, held captive aboard the hijacked oil tanker Honer 25 off the coast of Somalia have reportedly run out of food, drinking water, and medicines, according to messages relayed to their families on Saturday.

The vessel, which was en route from Oman to Somalia, was seized on April 21 by more than 50 armed sea pirates. A total of 17 crew members are currently being held hostage on board.

Family members of the crew said the pirates briefly allowed the sailors to make phone calls, giving each Pakistani crew member around five minutes to speak with relatives and describe their deteriorating conditions.

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According to Kashif Umar, the ship’s third officer from Karachi, the situation onboard has become increasingly dire. He said that only rice remains as food, which is being boiled and consumed once a day due to the lack of supplies.

He further revealed that three crew members are ill, but all medicines have been exhausted. The most critical issue, he added, is the lack of clean drinking water. The sailors are reportedly being forced to consume contaminated water shared by the pirates after their own supplies ran out.

The Ansar Burney Trust also received a video message from the ship’s Filipino captain, who appealed for urgent intervention. In the message, he urged Pakistani authorities to engage both the pirates and the ship’s owners to secure the release of the hostages.

The trust has expressed concern over the situation, stating that repeated pleas for assistance have gone unanswered and urging stronger government action. It added that without official cooperation, efforts to secure the sailors’ release remain limited.

The Foreign Office previously confirmed that Pakistan is in contact with Somali authorities and believes the crew members are safe. Officials said diplomatic channels, including the Pakistani embassy in Djibouti, are engaged with Somali counterparts, who are monitoring the vessel believed to be anchored near Puntland’s Eyl coast.Authorities continue to assess the situation as families await further updates on the safety and possible release of the crew.