UN calls for rescue of 185 Rohingya adrift in Indian Ocean
- December 25, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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UN calls for rescue of 185 Rohingya adrift in Indian Ocean
Subject :IR
Section: Places in news
Context: UN urges rescue of 185 Rohingya adrift in Indian Ocean
More about the news:
- The United Nations has urgently called for the rescue of 185 people, primarily women and children, stranded on a distressed boat near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean.
- The UNHCR refugee agency reported that about 70 of those on board are children, 88 are women, and at least a dozen are feared to be in critical condition, with one reported death.
- The individuals are believed to be Rohingya refugees, and the UNHCR is appealing to coastal authorities to urgently rescue them.
- Rohingya refugees, heavily persecuted in Myanmar, often undertake risky sea journeys to reach countries like Malaysia or Indonesia.
- The UNHCR stressed the need for timely rescue efforts to prevent a larger tragedy.
- Thousands of Rohingya attempt such journeys every year, with over 2,000 believed to have done so in 2022.
Some facts about UNHRC:
- It is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system.
- The UNHRC replaced the former UN Commission on Human Rights.
- It was created by the UNGA on March 15, 2006, and the body met in its first session in June, 2006.
- The Council is made up of 47 UN Member States who are elected by majority vote through a direct and secret ballot at the UNGA.
- The membership of the Council is based on equitable geographical distribution.
- African and Asia-Pacific states have 13 seats each,
- Latin American and Caribbean states have 8 seats,
- Western European and other states have 7 seats, and
- Eastern European states have 6 seats.
- The UNGA takes into account the candidate States’ contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as their voluntary pledges and commitments in this regard.
- The members serve for three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
Some facts about Rohingya:
- The Rohingya are an ethnic group, mainly consisting of Muslims, and primarily residing in the Rakhine province of Western Myanmar.
- They communicate in a Bengali dialect rather than the widely spoken Burmese language.
- Despite having a longstanding presence in the Southeast Asian nation, Myanmar views them as individuals who migrated to their territory during the colonial era. The country categorizes them as “resident foreigners” or “associate citizens.”