Rohingyas cannot wait for top officials to deliberate issue

The humanitarian crisis of the Rohingyas adrift for weeks in the Andaman Sea, on overcrowded boats with dwindling supplies of food and water, has left me feeling disturbed (“Rohingyas risk death at sea for a better life”; May 18).

The “human ping-pong” of boats being pushed from one country to another has made a mockery of the catastrophe.

While local fishermen in Indonesia’s Aceh province have filled the void by rescuing 677 Rohingyas, thousands are still stranded in rickety vessels that captains and crew have abandoned. Refugees have been thrown overboard amid the fight for survival.

In the Mediterranean, European countries have rescued North African migrants without delay. Italy managed to save 600 migrants in six operations, one alongside Maltese authorities, within 24 hours. Why can’t South-east Asian countries take similar measures?

Thailand has arranged a May 29 regional summit to discuss the situation. In response, Myanmar’s government warned that it may not attend if “Rohingya” is mentioned on the invitation.

Myanmar has refused to shoulder the blame for the calamity in recent weeks, and the boat people cannot afford the time top officials are taking to deliberate on the issue.