Mumbai: At least a hundred ethnic Rohingya are stranded in a ship off Andaman Islands and as many as sixteen-20 can also additionally have have died of thirst, starvation or drowned, stated Myanmar Rohingya activist corporations.
Each yr many Rohingya, participants of a Muslim minority, chance their lives boarding rickety vessels to break out violence in Myanmar and squalor in Bangladesh refugee camps. Many try to attain Malaysia.
The stranded boat become approached through 5 Indian ships overdue on Tuesday, a supply advised information employer Reuters.
A spokesperson for the Indian Navy stated he did now no longer have any information to share. A spokesperson for the Coast Guard did now no longer reply to a request for remark from Reuters.
“We estimate that probable as many as 20 have died, a few from starvation and thirst, and others jumped overboard in desperation. This is really lousy and outrageous,” stated Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project which matches to assist Myanmar’s Rohingyas.
Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network’s Rohingya Working Group stated the organization were adrift for greater than weeks.
“We heard overdue remaining night time that there had been a few Indian vessels coming near the boat so we’re watching for updates now,” stated Lilianne Fan, chair of Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network’s Rohingya Working Group.
“We wish that the Indian Navy or Coastguard will control to rescue and disembark the boat as quickly as possible. These human beings had been adrift on a broken boat for greater than 2 weeks with out meals and water. We have heard that as much as sixteen human beings can also additionally have already died.”
Another boat, sporting greater than 100 Rohingya become rescued through Sri Lanka’s army at the weekend.
In 2018, greater than 730,000 Rohingya Muslims fled to neighbouring Bangladesh following a navy crackdown in Myanmar that witnesses stated protected mass killings and rape.
Rights corporations and media have documented killings of civilians and burning of villages.