Rohingya Association Pleads For International Assistance To Save Refugees At Sea

ALOR SETAR (Kedah, Malaysia) Dec 14 (Bernama) -- The Kedah Rohingya Association of Malaysia has appealed for international assistance to save about 500 Rohingya refugees who were now believed to be stranded in Myanmar waters. Its chairman Yusof Ali said the refugees were fleeing to Bangladesh due to oppression by the government of Myanmar. "They arrived in Bangladesh, but the Bangladeshi government did not allow them to land, so they returned to Myanmar but were then blocked by the government of Myanmar," he told Bernama. He said each boat accommodated about 15 to 20 passengers, including infants, children and women, who did not have sufficient food supply. "As of now, we do not know what's their fate. Are they still alive or otherwise, and that's why I urge assistance from the international community to look into this matter immediately," he said. On Nov 17, some 500 Rohingya refugees also suffered a similar fate when the boat they were traveling in was not allowed to land in the waters of Bangladesh and Myanmar after their escape. However, 12 days later, they were found alive and rescued by villagers in Bangladesh before being placed in a refugee camp in the country. -- BERNAMA