Somali pirates have demanded a ransom of $3 million for the release of 17 hostages, including 10 Pakistani nationals, aboard the hijacked oil tanker Honour 25. According to the Ansar Burney Trust, the pirates contacted the organization through a WhatsApp message on Monday and warned that they would only release the crew, vessel, and cargo after receiving full payment.
The pirates also refused to negotiate or reduce the ransom amount. Moreover, they dismissed reports claiming they had demanded $10 million for the release of the hostages. The group further denied any connection to a man named Usman, whom some media outlets described as the owner of the vessel.
Crew Members Face Severe Humanitarian Crisis
Qurrat-ul-Ain Advocate, director of the Ansar Burney Trust, confirmed the contact with the pirates and shared details about the worsening conditions aboard the tanker. She stated that the hostages urgently need humanitarian assistance as food supplies, medicines, and clean drinking water have completely run out.
The crew members appealed for immediate help through video and audio messages sent from the vessel. They revealed that they now survive on only one serving of boiled rice daily. In addition, they have started drinking contaminated water, which has reportedly caused illnesses among several hostages aboard the tanker.
Hijacking Incident Raises Regional Security Concerns
The Honour 25 was sailing under the Somali flag from Oman to Somalia when pirates hijacked the vessel on the 21st of last month. At the time of the attack, 17 crew members were present aboard the tanker.
The incident has raised serious concerns about maritime security in regional waters, especially for commercial vessels operating near the Horn of Africa.
