CNN
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Many Rohingya are feared lifeless at sea greater than three weeks after their boat grew to become stranded off the Indian coast, the place at the very least 160 individuals stay aboard on the point of hunger, members of the family and the United Nations’ refugee company mentioned.
Mohammed Rezuwan Khan, whose sister and 5-year-old niece are on the vessel, instructed CNN Wednesday that two youngsters and a lady had died, including that these nonetheless alive have “no water, meals or medication.”
“We’re extraordinarily involved and need them to be rescued. It’s rising more and more troublesome for them to outlive,” mentioned Khan, including that he final spoke to the boat’s captain on Sunday.
The boat, at present close to the Indian territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands within the Bay of Bengal, has reportedly been adrift since late November when its engine minimize out.
It’s thought to have been heading to Malaysia from Bangladesh, the place round 1 million Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority, stay in refugee camps after fleeing violence of their native Myanmar.
CNN can’t independently confirm whether or not any deaths have occurred on the boat. A United Nations spokesman mentioned there have been “unverified stories suggesting at the very least 20 individuals could have already died throughout this stunning ordeal.”
Babar Baloch, an Asia spokesperson for the UN Excessive Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), urged each India and Sri Lanka to assist rescue these aboard.
“Fast motion is required to save lots of lives and keep away from additional deaths,” Baloch mentioned. “We repeat our warning that inaction from states to save lots of lives is leading to extra human distress and tragedies with every passing day.”
A bunch of Southeast Asian lawmakers has additionally urged neighboring nations to “urgently rescue” the boat, in response to a assertion from ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights.
The attraction comes days after the Sri Lankan Navy rescued a ship carrying 104 Rohingya refugees.
CNN has reached out to the Indian and Sri Lankan navies for remark.
Baloch mentioned the UN believes some 2,000 Rohingya have taken the dangerous sea journey this 12 months alone.
Many depart from the overcrowded refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, the place situations are dire and girls are liable to sexual assault and violence.
The camps have swelled over the previous 5 years as a whole bunch of 1000’s of Rohingya fled a brutal marketing campaign of killing and arson by the Myanmar army in western Rakhine state.
Life on the camps has its personal risks. Fires are frequent and have destroyed a whole bunch of houses, whereas floods through the monsoon season usually wipe out the poorly constructed huts.
Determined to go away, many pay unlawful traffickers to smuggle them out of the camps.
Khan mentioned his sister was looking for a greater life for her daughter, and determined to aim the damaging sea journey out of Bangladesh on November 25.
“The Rohingya individuals are rising determined, they’re prepared to threat their lives,” Khan mentioned.
The perilous voyage from Cox’s Bazaar to Malaysia can take weeks, and situations at sea are difficult.
Many on the stranded boat are ingesting rain water once they can, Khan mentioned, including some are rising so determined, they’re ingesting water from the ocean.
Rahan Uddin mentioned his 17-year-old brother was additionally on the boat, having boarded within the hope of discovering a job and incomes sufficient cash to assist along with his ailing dad and mom’ medical payments.
“We’re very involved about him and his security,” Uddin mentioned. “We don’t know if he’s alive or not.”
Whereas all nations are certain by worldwide legislation to rescue individuals in misery at sea, swift motion is just not all the time forthcoming – significantly the place Rohingya refugees are involved.
In December final 12 months, Indonesia agreed to assist restore a stranded boat filled with greater than 100 Rohingya refugees off its coast, however didn’t permit its passengers to hunt refuge within the nation.
In March 2020, a bigger boat carrying nearly 300 Rohingya spent greater than six months adrift at sea. Its passengers have been turned away by a number of nations earlier than lastly being accepted by Indonesia. By then, at the very least 30 individuals together with ladies and kids had died. Many surviving ladies mentioned they have been assaulted on board the vessel.
Final 12 months, India’s Supreme Courtroom dominated that Rohingya refugees in India may very well be forcibly returned to Myanmar.
India is just not occasion to the UN Refugee Conference and lacks a nationwide refugee safety construction, in response to the UNHCR. Rohingya refugees are sometimes labeled unlawful immigrants topic to deportation from India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s authorities has been criticized for making an attempt to ship again Rohingya through the years.
Khan mentioned he desires the worldwide neighborhood “to please see us as human beings.”
“Let our individuals disembark from the boat,” he mentioned. “Please save the Rohingya. In any other case, we could die.”
