The hostage crew’s video emerges after 26 days in pirate captivity

A video showing 10 crew members of an Indonesian flag held hostage by Somali pirates emerged on Friday, sparking concern among their families and the public.

In the footage, one of the abducted crew members, Second Officer Hussain Yousuf, is seen appealing to the government for urgent help to secure the release of all hostages.

He is flanked by other Pakistani crew members as well as Indonesian colleagues, while armed pirates are visible in the background.

In the video, Yousuf said 26 days had passed since the vessel was seized, adding that the crew remained unaware of progress in negotiations for their release.

Read more: HRCP expresses deep alarm at the continued captivity of Pakistani crew by Somali pirates

He described deteriorating conditions on board, saying that food supplies were depleted and that the pirates were delivering only small portions of rice every 24 hours. He added that the crew were forced to drink contaminated water from the ship’s tank.

He called on the government and the shipping company to speed up negotiations to ensure a safe release.

Meanwhile, families of the abducted Pakistani crew members are said to be in dire straits, making repeated appeals to the authorities for the safe return of their loved ones. The children of the hostages expressed hope to celebrate the upcoming Eidul Azha with their fathers.

The families have approached various officials through the media and social platforms. About two weeks ago, they met the Sindh governor in what was described as their first formal interaction with a government official. The governor assured them of full cooperation and promised to take up the matter with the federal government.

Earlier, the families staged a symbolic protest at the Native Jetty Bridge, briefly blocking heavy port traffic to draw attention to their plight. They also warned of launching a hunger strike if their demands were not met immediately.