Rohingya boat: IOM calls for immediate rescue as deaths reported

With the latest reports that a vessel with Rohingya refugees is in distress in the Andaman Sea, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has called on countries in the region to meet their international obligations and ensure that all on board the vessel are immediately rescued and safely disembarked.

The vessel has been at sea for more than 10 days, with loss of life already reported. IOM reiterated calls it has made in the past with other UN agencies and humanitarian partners emphasizing that saving lives must be the top priority.

The UN’s migration agency added that it is imperative to find a lasting regional solution to the regional problem, building on the solid cooperation and planning previously undertaken by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Bali Process to address irregular maritime movements.

IOM, along with its UN and other humanitarian partners, reaffirms its support to States across the region to provide immediate assistance to asylum-seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants, as well as to strengthen the broader response capacity to respond to irregular movements.