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dpa
Dhaka
The Indian coastguard has aided a boatload of Rohingya Muslims with food, water and medicine after the refugees were found adrift in the Andaman Sea, the UN refugee agency said on Thursday.
“We understand the Indian coastguard did indeed supply food, water and some medical care on Monday,” said Catherine Stubberfield, spokesperson for the regional bureau for Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
The number of the refugees could not be known yet, she told dpa in reference to the Indian response to the UN agency’s request for a search mission in the sea.
The boat is believed to have left the southern Bangladeshi district of Cox’s Bazar, home to hundred of thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled persecution in neighbouring Myanmar, nearly two weeks ago and its engine broke down in the Andaman Sea.
Bangladeshi officials, however, said they have no knowledge about the boat, or about how and from where the refugees had started their journey. The UNHCR on Monday called upon nations in the region immediately to rescue the refugees in distress.
A number of refugees have lost their lives, many others were suffering from extreme dehydration as the vessel had run out of food and water, the UN agency said in a statement.
“We understand that the crew of smugglers abandoned the ship some days ago. Without a qualified crew on board, there is a high risk of further harm to the refugees and more deaths,” Stubberfield said.
Dhaka
The Indian coastguard has aided a boatload of Rohingya Muslims with food, water and medicine after the refugees were found adrift in the Andaman Sea, the UN refugee agency said on Thursday.
“We understand the Indian coastguard did indeed supply food, water and some medical care on Monday,” said Catherine Stubberfield, spokesperson for the regional bureau for Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
The number of the refugees could not be known yet, she told dpa in reference to the Indian response to the UN agency’s request for a search mission in the sea.
The boat is believed to have left the southern Bangladeshi district of Cox’s Bazar, home to hundred of thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled persecution in neighbouring Myanmar, nearly two weeks ago and its engine broke down in the Andaman Sea.
Bangladeshi officials, however, said they have no knowledge about the boat, or about how and from where the refugees had started their journey. The UNHCR on Monday called upon nations in the region immediately to rescue the refugees in distress.
A number of refugees have lost their lives, many others were suffering from extreme dehydration as the vessel had run out of food and water, the UN agency said in a statement.
“We understand that the crew of smugglers abandoned the ship some days ago. Without a qualified crew on board, there is a high risk of further harm to the refugees and more deaths,” Stubberfield said.
