Dozens Of Rohingya Feared Dead Or Missing After Boat Capsized Off Indonesia: UN
Faizan Hashmi Published March 22, 2024 | 03:50 PM
Jakarta, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Mar, 2024) Dozens of Rohingya refugees are feared dead or missing after a boat survivors said held around 150 people capsized this week off the westernmost coast of Indonesia, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said Friday.
"The fear is for those out of the 151, that haven't been so far rescued, is that those lives have been lost or they have gone missing," UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch told AFP.
"Let's hope that tomorrow, that if they are still alive somewhere, that they are rescued."
Indonesian rescuers called off the search for any remaining Rohingya refugees missing at sea earlier in the day, despite reports from some of the survivors that dozens of people were swept away.
Survivors estimated there were "around 150 people on the boat", West Aceh fishing community secretary-general Pawang Amiruddin told AFP by phone on Wednesday.
UNHCR said in a joint statement with the International Organization of Migration (IOM) on Friday they were "shocked and deeply concerned over the situation" after the boat capsized 16 nautical miles (30 kilometres) off the coast of West Aceh.
"If confirmed this would be the biggest loss of life so far this year," the joint statement said.
On Thursday authorities staged a dramatic rescue of 69 Rohingya who had been adrift at sea for weeks before the boat capsized, with many found clinging to the hull of the overturned vessel.
From mid-November to late January, 1,752 refugees, mostly women and children, landed in the Indonesian provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra, according to the UNHCR.
The UN agency said it was the biggest influx into the Muslim-majority country since 2015.
Recent Stories
Pakistan name 18-player squad for Ireland and England
Joint exercise of Pakistan Navy, US Navy held in Karachi
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 2 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 02 May 2024
Dubai Police Marks International Workers' Day with 'Talabat' Riders
Sharjah Ruler inaugurates 15th annual Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival
Parineeti Chopra opens up about her decision to marry politician Raghav Chadha
PCB decides to set up training camp for national team ahead of England, Ireland ..
Virat Kohli's sweet birthday wish for Anushka Sharma
Interior Minister commends Pakistan Coast Guards
Pakistan women’s squad announced for England tour
Punjab CM Maryam inaugurates initiative of field hospitals
More Stories From World
-
China reports annual average of 21 mln new drivers over last two decades
15 minutes ago -
New Zealand's annual number of homes consented down 25 pct
15 minutes ago -
China's major internet firms log steady revenue growth in Q1
15 minutes ago -
China's lottery ticket sales up in March
15 minutes ago -
Mongolia plants 42 mln trees since 2021 to combat desertification
25 minutes ago -
Canada's Trans Mountain pipeline expansion starts operations
25 minutes ago
-
Abrupt frozen soil thaw produces more carbon emissions: study
25 minutes ago -
China launches fourth Civil Code publicity month campaign
25 minutes ago -
National exhibition of school students' art performances, works to be launched
25 minutes ago -
China reports record railway trips on 1st day of May Day holiday
25 minutes ago -
Australian meat industry's emissions down 78 pct since 2005
35 minutes ago -
New flowering plant species discovered in SW China
35 minutes ago