US hopes that information comes from the maritime surveillance flights will provide an enhanced understanding of the position of boatpeople at sea.

A US Navy aircraft has began conducting maritime surveillance flights to locate and mark the positions of boats possibly carrying migrants at the Asian sea, said Jeff Rathke, director of the US State Department.

"We stand ready to conduct additional flights as necessary to help provide support to regional governments," Rathke said at the daily press briefing at Washington yesterday.

 "So that's in terms of what the United States has been doing in the last couple of days to help address the situation," he said.

He further said, "We're also pleased, of course, that Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to accept 7,000 migrants, and we're also pleased by reports that Malaysia will be conducting search-and-rescue operations for those stranded at sea as well."

He urged the international community to support this effort and to attend the May 29th conference which is being hosted by Thailand to address the situation.