Pope Francis has strongly called on the international community to help the scores of migrants who are currently trapped after attempting to cross the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea the Catholic News Agency reported on 26 May.
While around three thousand migrants have managed to make their way to Indonesia, Malaysia or Thailand, thousands more are believed to be stranded in the middle of the ocean.According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), thousands are stranded on boats in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.
“I continue to follow with great concern and suffering in my heart the stories of numerous refugees in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea,” the pope said during his May 24 Regina Caeli address.
About half of the migrants are reportedly from Bangladesh. The rest are Rohingya Muslims escaping persecution in Myanmar.
“I express my appreciation for the efforts made by those countries who have expressed their willingness to welcome these persons who are confronting grave sufferings and dangers,” Pope Francis said.
The pope then urged the international community to offer their humanitarian aid.