The secretary-general of the United Nations is increasingly concerned about the plight of migrants and refugees stranded in the Andaman Sea and Straits of Malacca.

In recent days, the secretary-general has spoken to the prime ministers of Malaysia, Najib Abdul Razak, and Thailand, Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The deputy secretary-general has also spoken to the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali, and the Deputy Minister for Multilateral Affairs of Indonesia, Hasan Kleib.

In their discussions with leaders in the region, they reiterated the need to protect lives and uphold international law. Furthermore, they stressed the need for the timely disembarkation of migrants.

The UN officers also urged the leaders to uphold the obligation of rescue at sea and maintain the prohibition on refoulement.

The secretary-general and deputy secretary-general also encouraged leaders to participate in the coming regional meeting in Bangkok on the migrant situation. They hope that the meeting will lead to comprehensive outcomes at the regional and international levels.

The United Nations stands ready to assist all efforts to address the situation, including at the proposed meeting.

This letter is issued in Kuala Lumpur by the spokesperson for the UN secretary-general.