Pakistan, May 9 -- Pakistani sailors held aboard a hijacked oil tanker off Somalia have appealed for urgent help, saying they are running out of food, medicine, and drinking water. The crew is reportedly being held captive by pirates who seized the vessel last month in the Indian Ocean.

The tanker, traveling from Oman to Somalia, was taken over by more than 50 armed pirates on April 21. Seventeen crew members are onboard, including 10 Pakistanis. Families of the hostages say they were recently allowed short phone calls with their loved ones for the first time in weeks.

Read more: Somalia waters piracy incident leaves Pakistani crew hostage

According to crew members, conditions on the vessel have deteriorated sharply. They said they sur...