(VOVworld) – The UN Chief Ban Ki-moon said on Sunday that he was increasingly concerned by the humanitarian crisis sparked by refugees stranded on boats in Southeast Asia, and offered help from the United Nations.

UN Chief Ban Ki-moon (Photo: Global)

Ban had spoken by phone with the prime ministers of Malaysia and Thailand while his deputy Jan Eliasson had discussed the crisis with ministers from Bangladesh and Indonesia. In the discussions, they reiterated the need to protect lives of the migrants and ensure international law. Mr. Ban expressed concerns as waves of migrants, mainly from Myanmar and Bangladesh, crossed the sea to heading towards Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Those countries provided food and water to refugees but did not allow them to enter their territories.