Malaysia orders search and rescue for migrant boats

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has said his country will conduct search and rescue missions for Rohingya migrant boats in the Andaman Sea.

Humanitarian aid would also be delivered by land and sea, he said.

His announcement comes after weeks of authorities rejecting migrant boats and towing them out of Malaysian waters, reports BBC

Malaysia and Indonesia’s foreign ministers are in Myanmar for talks on the migrant crisis. About 7,000 people are believed to be stranded at sea.

The migrants are comprised of Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar, as well as Bangladeshis, who are thought to be economic migrants.

Malaysia and Indonesia have said they will temporarily shelter those that land on their territory, but need the international community’s help with resettling them.