Inaction will cost lives adrift at sea

BY|the daily star

The UN Refugee Agency has warned that delays in rescuing about 200 Rohingyas stranded in the Andaman Sea and Strait of Malacca for weeks are costing human lives.

Several reports indicate dozens of people have already died during this ordeal, while survivors are hungry and thirsty without access to food and water and suffering from sickness, it said.
Reportedly, two to three boats carrying the Rohingyas left the coast of Bangladesh for Indonesia and Malaysia in the last week of November and they got stranded as the engines were damaged because of strong weather in the sea.

In a statement, UNHCR yesterday said it is deeply dismayed that its repeated calls to rescue and safely disembark people stranded on boats are not being heeded.
“It warns that inaction from states to save lives is resulting in more human misery and tragedies each passing day.”

UNHCR remains deeply concerned about the dire condition of a boat in distress off the coast of Indonesia carrying up to 200 Rohingya refugees, including women and children.

UNHCR repeats its appeal to all responsible states to rescue those on the boat and allow them to safely disembark in line with legal obligations and humanitarian traditions.
“Quick action is needed to save lives and avoid further deaths.”

The UN Refugee Agency and humanitarian partners are ready to continue their support to the respective states in conducting screening and documentation of rescued individuals and to provide them with basic assistance and protection.

On December 2, UNHCR issued a warning over the dramatic increase in the number of people attempting to cross the Andaman Sea, from Bangladesh and Myanmar.