BANGKOK
- A Rohingya refugee gave birth to a baby boy on an overcrowded boat
carrying around 110 people which arrived in Thailand from unrest-hit
western Myanmar, an official said Thursday. The boat was sinking when it
landed at Surin island off Thailand’s southwestern province of Phang
Nga near the border with Myanmar on Wednesday, a local government
official told AFP. “Among them there was a new-born baby, aged around a
week up to 10 days old,” Manit Pienthong said. “They (the refugees) told
us a baby was born in a boat. We sent the baby to hospital for a
check-up - the baby is fine.”
The
baby, who weighed three kilograms (6.6 lbs), was returned to his mother
and both were taken into the care of immigration authorities, Manit
said, although it was unclear what will happen to them next. Thousands
of Rohingya - members of a stateless Muslim minority described by the UN
as one of the world’s most persecuted groups - have fled Myanmar in
recent months with many making the perilous sea journey south.
Non-governmental organisations have voiced concern that an increasing
number of women and children are among them. Nearly 800 Rohingya have
arrived on nine separate boats this month in Phang Nga alone, Manit
added. Thailand’s navy blocked more than 200 Rohingya boat people from
entering the kingdom on Wednesday as part of a new crackdown on the
refugees, under which they will be given food and water but barred from
landing if their boat is seaworthy. The tougher stance came after Thai
authorities said they were investigating allegations that army officials
were involved in the trafficking of Rohingya.
Source: here
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