At least 250 Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants, including children, are missing after their boat capsized in the Andaman Sea last week, according to the United Nations' refugee and migration agencies.
The vessel, a trawler that departed from Bangladesh for Malaysia, reportedly sank because of heavy winds, rough seas, and overcrowding, the BBC reported.
The Bangladesh Coast Guard told AFP news agency that one of its ships rescued nine people from the vessel on April 9. It remains unclear exactly when the boat capsized.
Dangerous sea routes
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled across the border into Bangladesh since a deadly crackdown in Myanmar in 2017. The Muslim minority is denied citizenship by the Buddhist-majority Myanmar government.
Poor living conditions in Bangladesh have pushed many to attempt precarious journeys on overcrowded vessels toward Malaysia. Many migrants view Malaysia as a safe haven in the region.
Rafiqul Islam, a survivor of the incident, told AFP he floated for nearly 36 hours before rescue. He added that he suffered burns from oil that spilled from the vessel.
Islam, 40, said the promise of a job in Malaysia persuaded him to board the boat.
"This tragic incident reflects the dire consequences of protracted displacement and the absence of durable solutions for the Rohingya," the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a joint statement with the International Organization for Migration.
The agencies noted that ongoing violence in Rakhine, the Rohingya home state, has faded hopes of a safe return. They said shrinking humanitarian aid and harsh conditions in refugee camps have forced people to take these dangerous sea journeys.
These boats are often small and cramped, frequently lacking fresh water and sanitation. Some migrants die at sea, while others face detention or deportation.
In January 2025, Malaysia turned away two boats carrying approximately 300 refugees after providing them with food and water, according to the BBC.
One Rohingya refugee in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, previously told Reuters, "People are dying in the fighting, dying from hunger. So some think it's better to die at sea than to die slowly here."
The UN agencies called on the international community to sustain funding for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh. They stated that the tragedy serves as a reminder of the need to address the root causes of displacement in Myanmar.
