‘100 Rohingya stranded off Andaman, 20 feared dead’

An Indian Coast Guard ship. Photo: iStock

At least 100 ethnic Rohingya are stranded in a boat off Andaman Islands and many may have died, said two activist groups.

Five Indian ships approached the stranded boat late on Tuesday, a source told Reuters. A spokesperson for the Indian Navy said he did not have any details to share. Coast Guard didn't respond to a request for comment.

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"We estimate that probably as many as 20 have died… some from hunger and thirst, and others jumped overboard in desperation. This is absolutely awful and outrageous," said Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, which works to support Myanmar's Rohingyas.

Lilianne Fan, chair of Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network's Rohingya Working Group, said, "We hope that the Indian Navy or Coast Guard will manage to rescue them. These people have been adrift on a damaged boat for over 2 weeks."

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