South-east Asia to set up fund to help boat people
KUALA LUMPUR — A Malaysian minister says South-east Asian countries will establish a humanitarian fund to help boatloads of Rohingya Muslim and Bangladeshi immigrants who have recently landed in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand.
Rohingya Muslims line up to receive aid at a refugee camp outside Sittwe, Myanmar May 20, 2015. Photo: Reuters
KUALA LUMPUR — A Malaysian minister says South-east Asian countries will establish a humanitarian fund to help boatloads of Rohingya Muslim and Bangladeshi immigrants who have recently landed in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand.
Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Zahid Hamidi also says Singapore has pledged US$200,000 (S$270,000) to the fund at a special regional meeting today (July 2) on the refugee crisis.
Since early May, more than 4,600 boat people from Myanmar and Bangladesh have come ashore in Southeast Asian waters. The United Nations estimates some 2,000 migrants could still be at sea after human smugglers abandoned their boats amid a regional crackdown.
Mr Zahid says he has proposed that each Southeast Asian nation contribute US$100,000 to the fund. AP
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