UN urges Southeast Asia governments to rescue stranded Rohingya
The United Nations Refugee Agency has urged countries in Southeast Asia to rescue some 200 Rohingya refugees whose unseaworthy boat has been reported drifting in the Andaman Sea.
The UNCHR said in a statement on Thursday that it had received reports that the Rohingya had been stranded on a boat off the coast of Thailand since its engines failed on December 1.
“Those on board have been without food and water for days and are suffering extreme dehydration,” the statement said, adding it had unverified information that some of the refugees had died.
“There is a significant risk of additional fatalities in the coming days if people are not rescued and disembarked to safety,” it said.
AL JAZEERA
