Delegates from 17 countries and representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organisation for Migration came together for a regional conference on the migrant crisis in Southeast Asia in Bangkok, Thailand on May 29.

Speaking at the event, Thai Foreign Minister Thanasak Patimaprakorn stated that the influx of illegal migrants in the Indian Ocean has reached an alarming level.

He called upon governments to join hands to address the root causes of the crisis since no country can solve this problem alone.

He stressed the necessity to provide support for people in need, along with stopping emigration, combatting transnational crime and busting human trafficking networks.

Southeast Asian nations are struggling in the face of growing waves of migrants who are landing on the shores of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in growing numbers. In the last few weeks alone, at least 3,000 people were washed ashore or rescued by fishermen.

Last week, Malaysia and Indonesia said they would provide temporary shelters to the migrants for one year on the condition that they will be settled or repatriated within a year.-VNA