Rohingya boat tragedy : 27 dead as refugee vessel sinks at sea

A heartbreaking event occurred in the Andaman Sea that has brought to the forefront the issues of the Rohingya refugees: at least 27 of them perished when their ship sank while trying to escape torture, as stated by witnesses. The authorities from Malaysia and Thailand along with regional agencies are looking into the matter which reveals the continuous danger that the Rohingya people face while crossing over by boat to other countries in search of a safe refuge. Witnesses told of days spent in the sea before they were saved and while the toll is still not known it is likely that more deaths occurred. The catastrophe is being investigated at the same time that Southeast Asia is facing severe challenges with human trafficking, migration routes, and maritime rescue facilities that are almost non-existent or very weak. The rights groups are standing behind their demand for stronger international mechanisms to protect the refugees that are already in very bad situations and to assist the smugglers in their eternally difficult task of being caught. The event strengthens the plea for humanitarian aid, legal protection, and implementation of the long-term solution for the Rohingya community.