Migrant boat with 250 Rohingya, Bangladeshis capsizes in Andaman Sea
The boat, en route Malaysia, sank due to strong winds, rough seas and overcrowding, according to initial reports
A migrant boat carrying around 250 Rohingya and Bangladeshis capsized in the Andaman Sea, with many feared missing, the United Nations’ refugee and migration agencies said.
The Bangladesh Coast Guard rescued nine people on April 9, after the accident, which took place near the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean. The exact time of the accident remains unknown.
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The boat had left Bangladesh last week and was headed to Malaysia. According to the agencies, it sank due to strong winds, rough seas and overcrowding.
Displaced Rohingyas
Thousands of Rohingya, a minority group from Myanmar, have been fleeing refugee camps in Bangladesh in search of safety in Southeast Asia since a deadly military crackdown in 2017. In August that year, widespread violence and human rights abuses forced many to escape from Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
“This tragic incident reflects the harsh reality of long-term displacement and the lack of lasting solutions for the Rohingya,” the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a joint statement with the International Organization for Migration.
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One survivor, Rafiqul Islam, told AFP that he stayed afloat for nearly 36 hours before being rescued. He also said he suffered burns from oil that leaked from the vessel. Islam added that the hope of finding a job in Malaysia had convinced him to take the journey.
Why Rohingyas fleeing Bangladesh?
In their statement on Tuesday (April 14), the UN agencies urged the international community to continue supporting Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.
“As Bangladesh marks its new year, this tragedy shows the urgent need to address the root causes of displacement in Myanmar and create conditions for Rohingya refugees to return home safely and with dignity,” they said.
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Rohingya refugees continue to leave Bangladesh due to overcrowded camps, lack of jobs, reduced aid and rising insecurity, including gang violence in Cox’s Bazar. These conditions are pushing many to take risky sea journeys in search of a better life.