Deploy rescue missions for boats of Rohingyas adrift at sea, Fortify Rights to Malaysia

Fortify rights has urged the Malaysian regime to urgently coordinate with the regional governments to deploy search and rescue missions for boats of Rohingyas adrift at sea.

The statement was issued today, a day after the Bangladesh coast guard rescued a boat containing 396 Rohingyas that departed to Malaysia from Bangladesh nearly two months ago.

The Malaysian authority allegedly forced the boat back to the sea and the refugees were asrift for weeks, which resulted in the death of 60 people.

Sources in the Rohingya community expressed their concerns by saying atleast two other ships remained adrift in the sea between Bangladesh and Malaysia.

Matthew Smith, the CEO of the right group said that,”Sending an ill-equipped ship of refuges out to sea is unlawful and a death sentence.”

“The Malaysian government should investigate who ordered this Rohingya ship back out to see and urgently authorize search and rescue missions for any additional boats in distress.

 Malaysian authorities captured another boat containing more than 200 Rohingyas  on April 16.They forced it back too. The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and Royal Malaysian Navy(RMN) stated that they prevented the boats from entering the country’s territorial waters and such operations would be intensified.

The Malaysian authorities also stopped about from entering their territories on April 5.There were 202 Rohingyas on that boat including 45 women and five children.

Fortify group urged the government of the country to release the refugees amid mass risk of the spread of COVID-19 on April 10.

It is noteworthy that at least 15 Rohingyas from the refugee camp in Bangladesh died after their boat containing 100 of them drowned in the middle of the Bay of Bengal on their way to Malaysia.