Colombo, Dec 20, 2024 (BSS/AFP) – The Sri Lankan navy has rescued 102 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar found adrift on a fishing trawler off the island nation’s coast. Among the group were 25 children.

The refugees were brought to Trincomalee, Sri Lanka's eastern port, where they were provided with food, water, and medical care before being allowed to disembark.

Refugees Found Adrift

The group was spotted by fishermen near Mullivaikkal on Sri Lanka's northern coast early Thursday. While the Rohingya refugees typically aim for destinations like Malaysia or Indonesia, officials suggested that cyclonic weather may have pushed their boat off course.

This rescue is not unprecedented. The Sri Lankan navy conducted a similar operation in December 2022, rescuing more than 100 Rohingya in distress.

Background: Persecution and Flight

The Rohingya, a mostly Muslim ethnic group, face severe persecution in Myanmar.

2017 Exodus: Hundreds of thousands fled to Bangladesh following a military crackdown, which is now the subject of a UN genocide case.

2021 Coup: Myanmar's military coup has escalated violence, displacing millions and worsening conditions in Rakhine state, where famine looms due to ongoing conflict.

A Dangerous Journey

Thousands of Rohingya risk their lives annually on perilous sea journeys, often in unseaworthy vessels, in search of safety and better opportunities. Sri Lanka, located 1,750 kilometers southwest of Myanmar, occasionally becomes an unintended destination due to shifting weather patterns.

International Response

The UN and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly called for greater international action to address the plight of the Rohingya, highlighting the urgent need for regional cooperation to assist refugees and ensure their safety.

Sri Lanka's rescue operation underscores the ongoing crisis and the desperate lengths to which the Rohingya go to escape persecution.

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