Staff Reporter :
The United States has stressed on regional solution for drifting sea migrants and urged the countries to accommodate the people at their vicinity.
“We’re concerned about the situation. We are urging the countries of the region to work together to save lives at sea,” said Jeff Rathke, Director of the US State Department’s press office.
He said this is an urgent regional challenge that needs to be addressed regionally through a coordinated international effort and in accordance with international conventions and maritime law.
Saying that there is no US initiative for rescuing the drifting migrants at sea, he said: “This is a regional issue. It needs a regional solution in short order.”
Shortly after breaking of news on inhumane life of migrant workers in the hand of human traffickers following the discovery of mass graves in Thai forest more victims are being found at sea everyday.
He said the US government is coordinating with the affected government authorities, and with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and International Organization for Migration.
“The priority is to save lives. And we appreciate that the governments of the region have accommodated many Rohingya and other refugees and we urge them to continue to do so,” Jeff Rathke said.
He said they also appreciate the efforts that are being made by the Thai government to convene a regional conference on these issues.
The regional conference would take place May 29, but the priority right now is to save lives,” he said.
He said their ambassadors in all of the concerned countries are engaging governments to discuss ways of providing assistance to the victims.
He further cleared saying US ambassadors in countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia are joining discussion in this regard.
“We also continue to raise these issues with the Burmese authorities,” he said, adding this is because there’s an urgent need to fulfil commitments to improve the living conditions of those affected, the humanitarian situation in Rakhine state.
He said there have been a number of people who have been admitted or accommodated by countries, so we appreciate that.
