By: Camp Correspondent
The Sri Lankan Navy has rescued 102 Rohingya refugees, including 25 children, from a fishing boat drifting in the Indian Ocean. The refugees were brought to Trincomalee, a port city in eastern Sri Lanka, where they received safety and medical checks.
The Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority from Myanmar’s Rakhine State, face severe discrimination and violence in their homeland. Many undertake dangerous sea journeys to escape, hoping to reach safer countries like Malaysia or Indonesia.
The boat was discovered early Thursday morning by fishermen near Mullivaikkal on Sri Lanka’s northern coast. According to navy officials, communication with the refugees was challenging due to language barriers, and it remains unclear where they were heading. Recent bad weather caused by a cyclone had further worsened their ordeal.
This is not the first time Rohingya refugees have been rescued in Sri Lankan waters. In December 2022, the navy saved another group of over 100 people under similar circumstances.
The Rohingya crisis has deepened since 2017 when a military crackdown in Myanmar forced hundreds of thousands to flee to Bangladesh. The crackdown, widely described as genocide, is under investigation by the International Court of Justice. The situation deteriorated further following Myanmar’s 2021 military coup, which led to civil war and displaced millions. Rohingya communities continue to face forced recruitment, violent attacks, and denial of citizenship.
This rescue operation underscores the ongoing plight of the Rohingya people, highlighting their desperation to find safety and a chance for a better future.
