Rights expert urges emergency response to save Rohingya refugees at sea

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 25th Nov. UN independent expert on Friday has called for action to save the lives of Rohingya refugees from dangerous sea journeys to Indonesia as conditions in refugee camps in Bangladesh continue to deteriorate.

UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews said in a statement issued that “The crisis will only worsen without addressing its root cause – the illegal military junta of Myanmar,”

Bangladesh is hosting one million Rohingya refugees who have fled waves of violence in Myanmar.

Over 1,000 refugees arrived by boat in Indonesia’s northernmost province of Aceh over the past week.

Mr. Andrews commended the Government of Indonesia for offering safety, shelter and support to the arrivals, and urged other countries in the region to follow suit.

“This is an emergency, and an emergency response is required, including a coordinated search and rescue operation to save the lives of those who may be stranded on overcrowded, unseaworthy vessels,” he said.