UN agencies urge nations to save migrants

In a joint statement, UN agencies have urged Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to help save thousands of migrants stuck on boats in the region's waters.

Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are being urged to give priority to saving the lives of migrants stranded in waters off the three countries.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday UN agencies have strongly called on the region's leaders to allow men, women and children on overcrowded boats to disembark safely.

They also want to see boat push-backs stopped and the use of immigration detention avoided.