KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The figures are hard to keep up with: 575 on May 10; 800 on May 13; 300 on May 14; over 700 on May 15. These are the numbers of refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh found or left drifting at sea, abandoned by human traffickers on overcrowded boats, where they face starvation, rape and murderous riots. An unknown number — several thousand, according to some estimates — still remain unaccounted for, facing a grim few weeks ahead unless they are found quickly by a newly established Malaysian-led search and rescue initiative. Meanwhile, mass graves are being discovered in makeshift holding camps for refugees in the jungle along the border between Malaysia and Thailand.
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