Geneva: The United Nations refugee agency on Wednesday welcomed a promise by Malaysia and Indonesia to offer temporary shelter to 7,000 migrants adrift at sea and called for them to be brought to shore immediately, reports Reuters.

Further steps will be needed including examining the root causes of mass displacement and who is in need of international protection, it said in a statement assessing referring to commitments by Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand to resolve the crisis.

‘It is now urgent for people to be brought ashore without delay, and that immediate first aid and other care is provided for all who are in need. We look forward to seeing this happen without delay,’ the UNHCR said in Geneva.

Countries agree to assist migrants

Earlier on Wednesday, Malaysia and Indonesia issued a joint statement saying they will continue to offer international assistance to 7,000 migrants adrift at sea and assist them with ‘resettlement and repatriation’ within a year with international help, Reuters reported

‘I urge all NGOs, of all races and religions to step forward to volunteer to help these Rohingya migrants,’ Malaysian Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

‘Even though they are a migrant community that is trying to enter the country illegally, and breaking immigration laws, their well-being should not be ignored.’ 

Migrants in Indonesia

Hundreds of Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants landed in Indonesia’s northwestern Aceh province early on Wednesday, an Indonesian search and rescue official said.

They were first taken to a temporary shelter and after taking bath they were given food.

Those who had severe illness were shifted to a hospital by military vehicles.

Migrants were later transported to an immigration office at the port of Julok village at Kuta Binje under the Indonesian province of Aceh.

Boat recovered

The migrant boat which arrived off Indonesia's northern Aceh province on Wednesday, was first spotted drifting on 14 May 2015, reports BBC.

Those on board told the BBC that they had been abandoned by people-smugglers and were running out of food and water. They said 10 people on board had already died.

The Thai navy gave them food and water and later fixed the boat's engine and towed them out to sea. Contact was then lost with the boat.

The migrants say they were towed out to sea three times by the Thai and Malaysian navies.

They also complained that the Malaysian authorities had escorted them the whole way to Indonesia warning them never to return.

BBC said the boat was dirty and covered in bottles of pepper sauce, dirty plates and plastic bags of instant noodles. The smell was overwhelming. More than 400 people were rescued on Wednesday.