Boats with Dying Rohingya Refugees Rejected From Bangladesh Shoreline

Refugees prohibited from landing at either border; Maungdaw or Shapardip. They are facing starvation.

File photo from several weeks ago of similar occurrence.

(YANGON, Myanmar) - After floating for 3 consecutive days with limited to no supplies, Rohingya boat people from Arakan finally attempted to land near Shamapura Island of Bangladesh this afternoon.

But misfortune is following after them and the Bangladeshi border security forces blocked them from landing on their soil. After having a long and keen request with tears, when they failed approaching to the Bangladeshi, they at last drove their boats out toward Maungdaw where brutal Burmese forces are in standby to prevent the landing and drive out them.

All the boats are sighted at the middle of Naf River yet as they are unable to land on either sidem not in Burma nor Bangladesh.

In this situation they have nowhere else to go. It seems all the people, as they are facing starvation as there is no food for them - don’t know how many days they will be able to go on this way.

If someone is able to send them some foods, drinking water and some medicines it make surely help them. We tried to convince high profile local authorities to assist us to send some aforesaid items to them but they told us they were previously warned by the government not to involve furthermore with Rohingyas.

Maybe these local leaders will assist someone who keeps a very good and close relationship with them.

We enthusiastically request every community's people to come forward with an intention to assist these dying people on the boats for 3 - 4 days.

Thank you very much.

A Group of Rohingya from Banglaesh