DUBAI // Seven Pakistani hostages have been freed from the MV Albedo after a ransom of US$1.1 million (Dh4m) was paid to Somali pirates, the daughter of the ship’s captain confirmed yesterday.
The remaining 15 hostages continue to be held captive aboard the Malaysian-flagged cargo vessel that was hijacked by Somali pirates in November 2010 in the Gulf of Aden while sailing to Kenya from Jebel Ali Port.
“I am just so grateful to God that my father is alive,” said Nareman Jawaid, a Dubai resident and daughter of Jawaid Khan, the ship’s captain.
The men flew last night from Nairobi to Karachi with a short stop in Dubai, where Ms Jawaid joined them for the last leg of their flight.
The men and their families were taken from Karachi airport to the Governor House where they met Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan, the governor of Pakistan’s Sindh province.
Ms Jawaid had last seen her father at Jebel Ali Port two years ago.
“The pirates agreed to release only the seven Pakistanis,” she said. “We did want and hoped more people would be released with the money we raised, but that did not happen.”
Seven Bangladeshi, six Sri Lankans, an Indian and an Iranian are still being held. One Indian sailor died due to lack of medicine.
The wives and children of the Pakistani hostages had successfully launched a fund-raising drive in their home country in front of mosques and on busy roads to free their relatives.
Initial reports suggested that the Pakistani side and the Malaysian-based Iranian owner of the vessel would contribute half of the US$2.85m ransom amount demanded by the pirates.
With the help of philanthropists, businessmen and charity groups, the relatives announced on May 15 that they had raised part of the ransom amount of $1.1m. However, the owner was unable to raise the remaining amount.
The 21-month ordeal has taken a toll on the hostages with stories of deprivation and near-starvation.
The men were malnourished and dehydrated, according to negotiators from the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee in Karachi and relatives.
“I was happy but at the same time I felt very sad to see him,” said Ms Jawaid about her father.
“It’s been very hard on him and I hope he recovers. You can tell by just looking at him that he is not himself. He is very, very weak and has lost a lot of weight. He needs to be taken care of now.”
The hostages said they had been taken ashore for the past couple of months and left without food for days.
Her mother Shahnaz said she was unable to speak when captain Jawaid called from Dubai. The pirates had repeatedly called her with threats to kill her husband and the other hostages if the ransom was not paid.
“We just cried a lot, I couldn’t speak,” said Mrs Jawaid.
“Part of us is very sad for the rest of the crew, we are praying for them. My husband is quite depressed – obviously leaving people behind was not easy for him but there was no choice.”
The Somali pirates also sent a video focusing on the Pakistani hostages and relatives, the negotiators said.
This video prompted family members to urge Ahmed Chinoy, the lead negotiator from the citizens committee, to agree to secure the release of the seven men since there was no clarity about the remaining ransom amount.
“It was very difficult to watch,” Mrs Jawaid said.
“They were sick and lying on the ground. Mr Chinoy wanted everybody to come out, he was stuck on it. We had waited two months. But after seeing the video – that was the point we decided we could not wait anymore.”
Mr Chinoy led a small team to Somalia. No information was released to relatives due to concern that the pirates would backtrack.
“I went to an undisclosed location [in Somalia] to secure them,” Mr Chinoy said.
“It all happened very quickly over the last 24 hours. When I saw them, tears went down my face, I was so excited and I thanked Allah. I feel really sorry about the rest. My pledge is to keep alive the struggle to save their lives.”
rtalwar@thenational.ae
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50
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The specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 849Nm
Range: 456km
Price: from Dh437,900
On sale: now
FIXTURES
Fixtures for Round 15 (all times UAE)
Friday
Inter Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Saturday
Atalanta v Verona (6pm)
Udinese v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Juventus (11.45pm)
Sunday
Lecce v Genoa (3.30pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (6pm)
SPAL v Brescia (6pm)
Torino v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Parma (9pm)
Bologna v AC Milan (11.45pm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
HWJN
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry
4/5
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
'Shakuntala Devi'
Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra
Director: Anu Menon
Rating: Three out of five stars
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Non-oil%20trade
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Leap of Faith
Michael J Mazarr
Public Affairs
Dh67
As it stands in Pool A
1. Japan - Played 3, Won 3, Points 14
2. Ireland - Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, Points 11
3. Scotland - Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Points 5
Remaining fixtures
Scotland v Russia – Wednesday, 11.15am
Ireland v Samoa – Saturday, 2.45pm
Japan v Scotland – Sunday, 2.45pm
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding