In a potential breakthrough in Southeast Asia’s humanitarian crisis the United State Department has announces on May 20 that it is willing to take in Rohingya refugees as part of international efforts to help the stranded boat people.
According to Spokeswoman Marie Harf , US is all prepared to take a leading role in any multi-country effort, organized by the United Nations refugee agency, to resettle the most vulnerable refugees.
Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have been reluctant to let the Rohingya in, fearing a flood of unwanted migrants and have left the boats full of hungry, thirsty migrants in pathetic and heart-rending condition. But on Wednesday, they relented.
At least 120,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled sectarian violence and apartheid-like conditions in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar in the past three years. Widespread discrimination has left the Rohingya Muslims stateless in their own land.
In the past three weeks, more than 3,000 people – Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar and Bangladeshis trying to escape poverty – have landed in overcrowded boats on the shores of various Southeast Asian countries.
Aid groups say thousands more are stranded at sea after human smugglers abandoned their boats because of a crackdown by authorities.
Harf of the nationalists welcomed the governments’ decision “to uphold their responsibilities under international law and provide humanitarian assistance and shelter to 7,000 vulnerable migrants.” While Harf said Myanmar should to improve conditions inside the country for Rohingya.
Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will visit Myanmar on May 21 and urge it to cooperate with Bangladesh to help migrants who are adrift.
Myanmar officials refer to the minority group as “Bengalis” and insist they have immigrated illegally from Bangladesh, even though most have lived in the country for generations.