Source: MPHRP media release
Picture courtsy Robyn Kriel @robynleekriel in Twitter
The Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response
Programme (MPHRP) has welcomed the release and safe return of the remaining crew from
the MV Albedo.
Commenting on their arrival into Kenya on 7 June 20124
MPHRP chair Peter Swift said: “After 1288 days in captivity we are delighted
for them and their families after the terrible ordeal and hardship that they
have suffered. At the same time our thoughts are also with the family of the
Indian seafarer who died in captivity and the families of the four Sri Lankan
seafarers who are reported as missing after the vessel sank in July 2013.”
“The generous support of MPHRP’s partners and friends,
together with the extensive groundwork and cooperation of the UNODC and others,
helped to facilitate the release of the 7 Bangladeshi, 2 Sri Lankan, 1 Indian
and I Iranian crew members after they had been abandoned by the owner and with
no direct support forthcoming from other parties. The efforts of all those
involved in securing their release and safe return are greatly appreciated.”
It may be worth recalled here that the Malaysian flagged
containership “MV Albedo” with a crew of 23 was hijacked by Somali pirates on
26 November 2010. The ship was effectively abandoned by its owner soon
thereafter. One Indian seafarer died in captivity. In July 2012, following a
local campaign, a deal was struck for the release of the 7 Pakistani crew
members on board and they returned home safely.
In July 2013 the progressively unseaworthy vessel sank in
a heavy storm. Subsequently 7 Bangladeshi, 2 Sri Lankan, 1 Indian and 1 Iranian
seafarer were held hostage ashore, while the fate of 4 Sri Lankans on board at
the time of the sinking remains unknown.
Elaborating further, MPHRP Acting Programme Director
Hennie La Grange said: “For more than three years MPHRP has been supporting the
families of the crew with regular contact and visits, has organised a series of
combined and individual counselling sessions in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and
India, and has been providing, together with its partners, financial assistance
to help with tuition fees, medicines and other living costs. On several
occasions the Programme formally appealed to the Somali and international
communities to press the hijackers to release the seafarers on humanitarian
grounds. “
“MPHRP is meeting the seafarers and will help them to get
home. The Programme’s care of these
seafarers and their families does not stop here. Upon repatriation the seafarers will be helped
to reunite with their families and to reintegrate in society. Their complete recovery will entail a return
to health after living in squalor for the past three and a half years and a
return to gainful employment, hopefully at sea.
MPHRP will continue its efforts to facilitate the Albedo crew’s
successful rehabilitation.”
La Grange also paid tribute to the personal efforts and
dedication of MPHRP Programme Director Roy Paul and Regional Director Chirag
Bahri to support and assist all of the affected families, often on a daily
basis.
Swift and La Grange also added: “Today we remember also
the nearly 40 seafarers and fishers still held hostage in Somalia, all of whom
have been held for more than two years – some for over four years – and
encourage everyone who can do so to work tirelessly for their prompt release
and to support and assist them and their families.”
The MPHRP is a pan-industry alliance of ship owners,
managers, manning agents, insurers, maritime unions, and professional and
welfare associations working together with governmental and intergovernmental
organisations, which was established in 2010 to assist and support these
seafarers and address many of the concerns that they express.
No comments:
Post a Comment