Malaysia, Indonesia to let 'boat people' come ashore

A rescued migrant weeps upon arrival at Simpang Tiga, Aceh province, Indonesia. [Photo/IC]

"ROOT CAUSES"

The United States echoed these calls, with a senior US official pointing to conditions in Rakhine state as driving Rohingyas to flee.

"Ultimately (Myanmar) must take steps to address the root causes that drove these people (to sea) and we need long term sustainable solutions, development, protection of basic human rights if we're really going to answer the problem," Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a conference in Jakarta.

Blinken is due to visit Myanmar on Thursday to discuss the unfolding crisis.

Most of Myanmar's 1.1 million Rohingya Muslims are stateless and live in apartheid-like conditions. Almost 140,000 were displaced in clashes with ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in 2012.

Myanmar terms the Rohingya "Bengalis", a name most Rohingya reject because it implies they are immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh despite having lived in Myanmar for generations.

Myanmar's foreign ministry said in a statement published by state media on Wednesday that the government was making serious efforts to prevent people smuggling and illegal migration.

This included patrols by the navy and air force in Myanmar's territorial waters, it said.