About 250 people, including children, are feared missing after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized in the Andaman Sea, according to the United Nations.
The trawler departed Teknaf, southern Bangladesh, on April 4 and was headed for Malaysia when it reportedly sank due to heavy winds, rough seas and severe overcrowding, the UNHCR said. Preliminary reports suggest the vessel was carrying around 280 people.
Survivors Rescued After 36 Hours at Sea
The Bangladesh Coast Guard confirmed that one of its ships, en route to Indonesia, rescued nine survivors, including one woman, after spotting people floating using drums and logs near the Andaman Islands.
One survivor, Rafiqul Islam, said traffickers lured him with promises of work in Malaysia. He described horrific conditions on board:
People kept in a cramped holding area
Some dying before the boat even capsized
Oil spilling and burning passengers
Survivors floating for nearly 36 hours before rescue
A Deadly Pattern of Displacement
Thousands of Rohingya Myanmar’s persecuted Muslim minority attempt dangerous sea crossings each year to escape repression, conflict and the overcrowded refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, where more than a million people live in dire conditions.
Rakhine State, their homeland, remains engulfed in fierce fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, further driving displacement.
UNHCR: A Tragedy Rooted in Protracted Displacement
The UNHCR said the disaster reflects the “dire consequences of protracted displacement and the absence of durable solutions for the Rohingya.” It urged renewed efforts to address the root causes in Myanmar and create conditions for refugees to return home voluntarily, safely and with dignity.
Last year alone, the UNHCR estimated 427 Rohingya were feared dead in two shipwrecks off the Myanmar coast underscoring the deadly risks of these journeys.
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