Human rights advocates have urged the Malaysian government to quickly assist a damaged boat that is said to be carrying 160 Rohingya migrants and is adrift at sea, close to Malaysian waters, according to The Guardian.
It also reported that the boat is believed to be ferrying young children who have been out at sea for days without food or water.
The UK newspaper said that the boat is thought to have departed Bangladesh on Nov. 25.
The boat was leaking and had little food and water for its passengers, according to Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project rights organization, who spoke with families onboard.
Additionally, she claimed that since then, the regional administrations had taken no action, adding that “No one wants to accept responsibility.”
According to Lewa, individuals onboard the ship late Thursday afternoon stated that the boat was in Malaysia’s search and rescue area.
“We have information about where it was. It is lucky this boat has a sat phone,” she said, adding that no aid has been given to the boat.
Lewa further asserted that between Nov. 25 and 27, at least four other boats had departed Bangladesh – however, this assertion has not been verified.
Mohammed Rezuwan Khan, a Rohingya activist, said that two of the passengers on the boat included his older sister and her five-year-old kid.
He added that the boat’s engine was in need of repair.
“They need to be urgently rescued because they don’t have water or food. They have been crying, calling for aid.
“They were crying: ‘Please rescue us in any possible way’.”
Another activist who has communicated with the relatives of those onboard, Liliance Fan, chair of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network’s working group on Rohingya issues, reported that they have lost communication with the boat.
The boat had not yet received any assistance when the final transmission was made yesterday at 4 pm. local time.
“They say the conditions are extremely dire; people have not had food or water. It’s really a very desperate situation,” she said.
Amnesty International researcher for Southeast Asia Rachel Chhoa-Howard echoed the urgent need for assistance for the migrants on the ship, saying that regional governments must take responsibility.
“Regional governments must urgently coordinate and cooperate on search and rescue operations. They must attempt to locate any boats in distress and ensure the people onboard are allowed to disembark safely and receive proper medical support, food and water,” she said in a statement on Friday.
In a statement yesterday, Médecins Sans Frontières called on the Malaysian government to allow for the safe disembarkation of refugees suffering the effects of a regional humanitarian crisis and fleeing to seek safety.
“Upon disembarkation, the protection of refugees, as well as access to healthcare and other support services must be guaranteed.
“Safe disembarkation prevents the loss of lives of the Rohingya who are already afflicted by cumulative consequences of trauma, conflict and discrimination due to the denial of citizenship in Myanmar for decades.
“In addition, Rohingya are subjected to violence targeting them in Myanmar and in other countries of asylum,” said the statement.
It was previously documented that many Rohingya attempted the dangerous journey across the Andaman Sea, hoping to reach either Malaysia or Indonesia.
The number of such attempts increase each year as conditions in Myanmar and even in the refugee camps in Bangladesh continue to deteriorate.
