Rohingya sea route turns deadliest as deaths surge
UN says nearly 900 Rohingya were reported dead or missing in 2025 as shrinking aid, camp hardship and persecution drove increasingly perilous sea crossings
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead during sea crossings in 2025, making it the deadliest year on record for maritime movements in South and Southeast Asia, as worsening conditions push thousands into perilous journeys.
Data released by the United Nations refugee agency shows more than 6,500 Rohingya attempted crossings across the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal last year, with roughly one in seven reported missing or dead — the highest mortality rate recorded globally for major refugee sea routes.
The figures highlight a deepening humanitarian crisis facing the Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority from Myanmar who have faced years of violence and systemic persecution, forcing mass displacement into neighboring Bangladesh and beyond.
According to the UN refugee agency, women and children now make up more than half of those attempting these crossings, a pattern that has continued into 2026. More than 2,800 Rohingya have already taken to the sea between January and mid-April this year, despite mounting risks.
The dangers were underscored by a recent incident in late March, when an overcrowded boat carrying Rohingya refugees capsized in rough seas after departing Bangladesh. Around 250 people were reported missing, while only nine survivors were rescued days later near India’s Andaman Islands.
Refugees undertaking these journeys often travel in unsafe, overcrowded vessels, departing from camps in southeastern Bangladesh or conflict-affected areas of Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Many attempt to reach Indonesia or Malaysia in search of safety and basic livelihoods.
Despite the risks of drowning, trafficking and exploitation, the lack of viable alternatives continues to drive movement. Aid reductions in Bangladesh’s refugee camps, combined with restrictions on education and employment, have intensified pressure on displaced families.
At the same time, ongoing conflict in Myanmar and the continued denial of citizenship rights leave little prospect for safe return, trapping Rohingya refugees in prolonged uncertainty.
More than 1.3 million Rohingya remain displaced across the region, including around 1.2 million in Bangladesh. Humanitarian operations remain severely underfunded, with last year’s response plan receiving just over half of the required support, according to UN data.
Humanitarian agencies have urged governments to expand safe migration pathways, strengthen regional coordination and address the underlying causes of displacement, warning that without sustained international support, more lives will be lost at sea.
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