Act Daily News
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The plight of practically 200 Rohingya refugees adrift within the Indian Ocean for the previous month is rising more and more determined, the United Nations’ refugee company mentioned Friday, because it repeated its name for international locations within the area to assist save them.
Many passengers are feared useless and survivors are mentioned to be getting ready to hunger aboard the boat, which is believed to have been heading to Malaysia from Bangladesh, the place round 1 million members of the stateless Muslim minority Rohingya stay in refugee camps after fleeing violence of their native Myanmar.
“This shocking ordeal and tragedy must not continue,” UNHCR Asia-Pacific director Indrika Ratwatte mentioned in a press release Friday. “These are human beings – men, women and children. We need to see the states in the region help save lives and not let people die.”
About 190 individuals stay aboard the boat after the UN company’s earlier pleas for intervention had been “continuously ignored” by a number of South and Southeast Asian international locations, he added.
The location of the boat stays unclear. As of Wednesday, it had been close to the Indian territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands within the Bay of Bengal. UNHCR mentioned it had alerted the Indian marine rescue heart earlier this week, requesting instant motion.
On Friday, the company mentioned it acquired unverified data that the vessel was noticed north of Aceh, Indonesia. It has reportedly been adrift since late November when its engine reduce out.
Act Daily News has contacted the Indonesian and Malaysian international ministries, in addition to the Indian Navy, however has not but acquired a response.
Mohammed Rezuwan Khan, whose sister and 5-year-old niece are on the vessel, mentioned he has misplaced contact with them.
“Very concerned for all of them, especially for my sister and niece,” he informed Act Daily News Friday. He had beforehand mentioned that two youngsters and a lady had died, including that these nonetheless alive had no water, meals or medication.
“The death toll may have increased since,” he added.
In a press release Thursday, UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar Tom Andrews mentioned regional governments “should prevent any loss of life and urgently rescue and provide immediate relocation” to the stranded Rohingya.
“Too many Rohingya lives have already been lost in maritime crossings,” he mentioned. “Increasing numbers of Rohingya have been using dangerous sea and land routes in recent weeks, which highlights the sense of desperation and hopelessness experienced by Rohingya in Myanmar and in the region.”
According to UN estimates, some 2,000 Rohingya have taken the dangerous sea journey this 12 months alone.
Many go away from the overcrowded refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, the place circumstances are dire and girls are prone to sexual assault and violence.
The camps have swelled over the previous 5 years as lots of of 1000’s of Rohingya fled a brutal marketing campaign of killing and arson by the Myanmar army in western Rakhine state.
Fires are frequent and have destroyed lots of of houses, whereas floods throughout the monsoon season usually wipe out the poorly constructed huts.
Desperate to depart, many pay unlawful traffickers to smuggle them out of the camps. But the perilous voyage from Cox’s Bazaar to Malaysia can take weeks, and circumstances at sea are difficult.
While all international locations are sure by worldwide regulation to rescue individuals in misery at sea, swift motion shouldn’t be all the time forthcoming – notably the place Rohingya refugees are involved.
Passengers have been turned away from some international locations, whereas girls have reported being assaulted throughout the journey.