In 2025, nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead while attempting to cross the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal, making it the deadliest year on record for this route, according to the United Nations refugee agency.
Babar Baloch, a spokesperson for the UNHCR, highlighted that more than one in seven of the estimated 6,500 Rohingya who attempted the sea crossing last year were reported missing or dead, marking the highest mortality rate worldwide for refugee and migrant sea journeys.
The perilous crossings have persisted into 2026, with over 2,800 Rohingya embarking on such journeys up until April 13, according to Baloch.
This tragic trend underscores the desperation among the Rohingya population, driven by violence in Myanmar and dire conditions in overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh. The Rohingya risk their lives on overcrowded, unseaworthy boats aiming for safety and opportunity in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, or Thailand.
Recent reports indicate that around 250 individuals are missing after a boat departing from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh capsized in the Andaman Sea. The UN refugee and migration agencies have expressed concern over this ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, April 18, 2026
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