UNHCR urges compassion in handling of Rohingya boat people

The boat carrying more than 200 Rohingya that was escorted out of Malaysian waters. — RMAF

THE United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) has urged countries to show compassion to refugees desperately in need of “assistance and protection” at this time.

Agency spokesperson, Rupert Colville, said in a statement that all states should ensure their responses to migrants in distress at sea are based on international human rights and refugee law, and that they are permitted safe disembarkation.