Rohingya Refugees Face High Mortality Rate During Sea Journey Last Year

UN Refugee Agency Reports Record Number of Deaths at Sea

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were lost or unaccounted for in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea in 2025, marking the deadliest year on record for maritime movements in South and Southeast Asia. According to UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch, this incident is part of a larger trend, with over 2,800 Rohingya refugees attempting to cross the sea this year.

The majority of these crossings originate from Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh or Rakhine State in Myanmar, with the goal of reaching Malaysia or Indonesia. While some individuals hope to return to their home countries once conditions improve, many face significant challenges, including ongoing conflict, persecution, and limited access to citizenship prospects.

In recent years, an increasing number of women and children have been among those making these perilous journeys, putting them at risk of trafficking and exploitation. A recent incident involving an overcrowded trawler carrying 250 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals highlights the dangers faced by those attempting to flee their homes.

The UNHCR is highlighting this record death toll in an effort to raise awareness about the plight of Rohingya refugees, both within Myanmar and in refugee camps and across the wider region. The agency hopes that increased attention will prompt solutions to mitigate the risk of another record number of deaths at sea in 2026.

Source: Al Jazeera