As a result of a number of perilous journeys undertaken in recent days involving migrants and refugees, the UNHCR, OHCHR, IOM and SRSG for Migration and Development have issued a Joint Statement urging the leaders of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, to save the lives of people stranded on vessels in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.
The UN officials stated that the aforementioned countries are urged to “facilitate safe disembarkation, and to give priority to saving lives, protecting rights, and respecting human dignity.”
The Statement reads:
We are deeply concerned at reports that boats full of vulnerable women, men and children are unable to land and are stranded at sea without access to urgently needed food, water, and medical assistance. We urge States in the region to protect the lives of all aboard by allowing the passengers on these overcrowded boats to disembark safely.
According to the Statement, saving lives should be “the top priority by inter alia significantly strengthening Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations.” Also, the countries should “stop boat push-backs and measures to ‘help on’ boats to leave territorial waters.”
A number of other measures is urged, including expanding avenues for safe and legal migration, including for labour migration at all skills levels; expanding efforts to prosecute traffickers and smugglers for their crimes; redouble efforts, nationally and through strengthened international cooperation, to address ‘push factors’ and the root causes of refugee and migrants flows, including discrimination, deprivation, persecution, and violations of human rights.
The original Joint Statement can be found here .
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Source: UNHCR, Image: UNHCR/A.D’Amato