The United States urges Bangladesh and Myanmar to continue to facilitate unrestricted humanitarian access to adrift migrants.

It also urges the two Southeast Asian countries to work with international organisations like the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration, and to process these migrants in line with their international commitments.

"We also understand that the governments of Burma (Myanmar) and Bangladesh are working with appropriate international organizations to verify the identities of the migrants who are – who have disembarked," said Jeff Rathke, director, Press Office of the US Department of State.

Rathke was addressing a daily press briefing at Washington yesterday.

About the 150 migrants rescued by Myanmar navy, who were repatriated to Bangladesh Monday, Rathke said this was a result of cooperation between the governments of Burma and Bangladesh.