More than 2,500 migrants still stranded at sea: UNHCR

MANILA: An estimate of 2,621 migrants are still stranded at sea, the United Nations’ refugee agency UNHCR disclosed in a press conference on South East Asia’s migrant crisis, jointly hosted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Wednesday (May 27).

“What is needed as of today is additional search and rescue resources to support what is already done,” said UNHCR Philippine representative Bernard Kerblat during a press conference on the Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean (Gulf of Bengal and Andaman Sea) in Manila. His message was echoed by IOM’s chief de mission Marco Boasso, who said the issue of irregular migration in South East Asia is “a protracted crisis”.

According to IOM, the smuggling of Rohingyas was first recorded in 2004, which later prompted the organisation to appeal for US$26 million to assist those involved in the crisis.

Following the Thai government’s recent crackdown on human trafficking, thousands of Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants have been stranded at sea on their smugglers’ boats.

On Friday, Thailand will host a regional meeting to address the migrant crisis, which is expected to see representatives from 19 states as well as various international organisations.

 

MIGRANT CRISIS NOT ASEAN PROBLEM

Citing its commitment to uphold asylum seekers, Mr Kerblat said the Philippines is a beacon of hope in South East Asia, explaining that the country has helped dozens of Rohingya at risk of being trafficked in the past.

According to Mr Kerblat, the Friday meeting will explore possible solutions to the ongoing crisis and resettlement will not be one of them. “Massive resettling will only encourage slave merchants to entice more people onto boats and endanger them to make more money. Resettlement will be available to a small number of people, but that is not the solution,” he said.

Both the UNHCR and IOM agreed the migrant crisis is no longer an ASEAN problem, as it involves many more players such as Bangladesh and Australia.

“The order of the day is not about finger pointing. We have to maintain a dialogue keeping in mind the interest of the human beings who need to be saved,” said Kerblat.