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Nearly 250 people, including women and children, are feared missing after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized in the Andaman Sea, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and International Organisation for Migration.
The vessel, which had departed from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh and was heading toward Malaysia, reportedly sank due to strong winds, rough sea conditions, and overcrowding, as per a statement by UNHCR and IOM.
UN agencies expressed deep concern over the tragedy, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by displaced communities. The incident, as per the agency, underscores the worsening humanitarian situation for Rohingya refugees, many of whom continue to live in difficult conditions with limited access to education, employment, and basic services.
Continued violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State has reduced hopes of a safe return, forcing many to undertake dangerous journeys in search of better opportunities, said the statement.
Experts say the promise of jobs abroad, often combined with misleading information spread by smuggling networks, pushes vulnerable individuals to take life-threatening risks.
The Andaman Sea has increasingly become a perilous route for migrants and refugees, with such incidents occurring frequently.
The UN has called on the international community to strengthen support and funding for humanitarian efforts in Bangladesh, while also addressing the root causes of displacement in Myanmar to ensure the safe and voluntary return of Rohingya refugees.
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