More than 260 Rohingyas arrived by boat in Malaysia, where they were arrested, Malaysian authorities announced on Monday that prevent members of this Muslim minority who fled Burma from landing in the country for fear of the spread of the new coronavirus . A coast guard vessel on Monday spotted a boat believed to be carrying migrants off the island of Langkawi, in northwest Malaysia.
8 June 2020 Thanks Malaysia Government,
đČđČMyanmar đRhinging đČđŸMalaysia đLangkawi
269 ââRohingya ethnic groups, believed to have been traveling for nearly four months from a refugee camp in Myanmar, landed on Langkawi Malaysia today. pic.twitter.com/u6XgnwdwQb
When the coast guard got closer, 53 migrants jumped overboard and were arrested. While inspecting the boat, the coast guards discovered 216 other Rohingyas and the body of a deceased woman, according to a press release from the service which supervises sea patrols. "The investigation also revealed that the boat had been intentionally damaged and (âŠ) Could not be repaired, âadded the press release, explaining that for this reason the coast guards had not tried to repel it towards international waters.
More controls at sea
Water and food were distributed to migrants and the boat transferred to Langkawi, where all 269 migrants were arrested. The authorities did not specify the origin of the boat or the duration of its journey.
In recent months, fears have arisen about the growing number of migrants wandering at sea, the countries that previously allowed them to dock are now pushing them away because of the Covid-19 epidemic. Malaysian authorities have stepped up maritime patrols to prevent illegal entry of migrants fearing they may be carriers of the coronavirus.
Crowded into camps
Rohingya refugees generally leave from Burma or Bangladesh. One million of them fled abuses by the Burmese army in 2017 and are crowded into overcrowded camps. Thousands of refugees tried to reach other countries in Southeast Asia on precarious and crowded boats.
In April, a boat carrying some 300 Rohingyas was intercepted and repelled by the Burmese authorities. Malaysia said it has repelled 22 boats attempting to enter the country illegally since early May. In recent months, hundreds of Rohingyas have been rescued off the coast of Bangladesh after long stays at sea.
World
Bangladesh: Nearly 400 Rohingya refugees rescued after two months at sea
World
VIDEO. Burma: War crimes but no genocide against the Rohingya, according to a Burmese investigation
- Boat
- World
- Rescue
- Malaysia
- Rohingya