Around 250 people are feared missing after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized in the Andaman Sea, according to a joint statement by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and International Organization for Migration.
The agencies said the overcrowded trawler, carrying men, women and children, reportedly sank due to strong winds and rough sea conditions. The vessel had departed from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh and was heading toward Malaysia.
Describing the incident as a tragedy, the UN agencies said it underscores the severe human cost of prolonged displacement and the lack of lasting solutions for the Rohingya population.
For years, members of the Rohingya Muslim minority from Myanmar have undertaken perilous sea journeys in fragile boats to reach countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, seeking refuge from persecution and dire conditions in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh.
The agencies urged the international community to increase funding for life-saving assistance for Rohingya refugees and extend support to host communities in Bangladesh.
The crisis dates back to 2017, when Myanmar’s military launched a large-scale crackdown that forced more than 730,000 Rohingya to flee into Bangladesh.
Survivors reported widespread atrocities, including killings, sexual violence and arson. A UN fact-finding mission later concluded that the military operation involved “genocidal acts,” a claim denied by Myanmar’s authorities.
