Indonesian fishermen warned against rescuing migrants

Indonesia fishermen have been warned by military officials against rescuing migrants from boats even if they are drowning.

At least 700 Bangladeshis and Rohingyas migrants from Myanmar were rescued off Aceh last week by locals, bringing the numbers in camps there to at least 1,500.

But according to BBC, the fishermen who rescued some of the migrants last week have now been warned against rendering similar humanitarian service.

A fisherman said the migrants needed help and despite all warnings, locals will continue helping them survive drowning.

“They’re human beings; we need to rescue them,” he said

Faud Basaya, the military spokesperson, said the fisherman would be allowed to deliver foods, clothing and other things to the migrants but they could not be brought into the country.

Meanwhile, the UN has called out on all nations to give out shelter and aid to the migrants in need at the sea.

On April 19, 2015, about 700 migrants trying to escape to Europe drowned in the Mediterranean when the fishing boat conveying them capsized off the Libya coast.

Italian authorities went on to rescue 6,800 migrants, including a heavily-pregnant Nigerian, Sandra Dike.