100 Rohingya stranded in boat off Andaman coast, greater than 16 useless: Activists

Mumbai: At least 100 ethnic Rohingya are stranded in a ship off India’s Andaman Islands and as many as 16-20 could have have died of thirst, starvation or drowned, stated two Myanmar Rohingya activist teams.

Each yr many Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority, threat their lives boarding rickety vessels to flee violence in Myanmar and squalor in Bangladesh refugee camps. Many try to achieve Malaysia.

The stranded boat was approached by 5 Indian ships late on Tuesday, a supply instructed Reuters.

A spokesperson for the Indian Navy stated he didn’t have any particulars to share. A spokesperson for the Coast Guard didn’t reply to a request for remark from Reuters.

“We estimate that probably as many as 20 have died… some from hunger and thirst, and others jumped overboard in desperation. This is absolutely awful and outrageous,” stated Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project which works to assist Myanmar’s Rohingyas.

Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network’s Rohingya Working Group stated the group had been adrift for greater than two weeks.

“We heard late final night time that there have been some Indian vessels approaching the boat so we’re awaiting updates now,” stated Lilianne Fan, chair of Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network’s Rohingya Working Group.

“We hope that the Indian Navy or Coastguard will manage to rescue and disembark the boat as soon as possible. These people have been adrift on a damaged boat for more than 2 weeks without food and water. We have heard that up to 16 people may have already died.”

Another boat, carrying greater than 100 Rohingya was rescued by Sri Lanka’s navy on the weekend.

In 2018, greater than 730,000 Rohingya Muslims fled to neighbouring Bangladesh following a army crackdown in Myanmar that witnesses stated included mass killings and rape.

Rights teams and media have documented killings of civilians and burning of villages.