The UN urges various states in the area to immediately rescue 185 Rohingya from Myanmar who are in a crisis situation in a boat in the Indian Ocean.
Of the Rohingya – an oppressed Muslim minority in their homeland – on board are around 70 children and 88 are women, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR.
“At least a dozen are feared to be in critical condition, while one person is reported to be already dead,” writes the organization.
Many more may soon die if countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia do not immediately help the refugees, UNHCR continues.
The boat was last heard from near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Every year, thousands of Rohingya try to escape to Malaysia and Indonesia from Myanmar or refugee camps in Bangladesh through expensive sea journeys, often on boats in poor condition.