After Weeks Of Authorities Rejecting Over 7,000 Rohingyas, Najib Announces SAR Mission

"We have to prevent loss of life," Najib said in a tweet.

By Sadho Ram | 21 May 2015, 05:10 AM

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Cover image via yimg.com

After weeks of Malaysian authorities rejecting boats filled with Rohingya migrants and towing them out of Malaysian waters, Prime Minister Najib Razak on Thursday, 21 May, tweeted that the Malaysian navy will conduct search and rescue missions for Rohingya boats in the Andaman Sea to prevent loss of life:

Najib's comments came a day after Malaysia and Indonesia agreed to provide shelter to 7,000 migrants adrift at sea on condition that the international community resettles them within a year

Image via BBC

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Anifah Aman's office said he would hold talks on Thursday with his Myanmar counterpart U Wunna Maung Lwin in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw. Myanmar has been accused of doing nothing to address the problem at home, BBC reported.

Malaysia estimates about 7,000 people are still stranded at sea.

Malaysia estimates about 7,000 people are still stranded at sea.

Image via BBC

According to Amnesty International's Asia Pacific Director Richard Bennett, the root cause of the crisis needs to be addressed by Myanmar. Read our story to understand the Rohingya crisis:

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