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Apr 15, 2026

UN Says Around 250 Rohingya Refugees Missing After Overcrowded Boat Sinks in Andaman Sea

AI Summary
The United Nations reports that roughly 250 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals are missing after an overloaded boat capsized in the Andaman Sea, highlighting the deadly risks of maritime smuggling and the ongoing humanitarian crisis stemming from Myanmar's persecution of the Rohingya.

Approximately 250 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals are now unaccounted for following the capsizing of an overcrowded vessel in the Andaman Sea, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on Tuesday.

The boat, packed with men, women and children, succumbed to heavy winds, rough seas and severe overcrowding, according to the UNHCR statement. The disaster underscores the perilous journeys many Rohingya undertake to escape persecution in Myanmar.

Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) officials reported that a patrol ship en route to Indonesia rescued nine individuals on April 9, including one woman. Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan described how the crew spotted survivors clinging to drums and logs and pulled them from deep water.

Among the rescued, six have been identified as alleged traffickers and are now in police custody, as reported by the Andalou news agency.

Survivor testimony paints a grim picture. Rafiqul Islam, who was lured onto the boat with promises of employment in Malaysia, recounted that passengers were confined in a holding area where some died. He said the vessel leaked oil, causing burns, and that it drifted for four days before capsizing. "We floated for nearly 36 hours before a ship rescued us," he said, estimating that 25 to 30 people died from suffocation and the crush of overcrowding.

The UNHCR warned that the tragedy reflects the "dire consequences of protracted displacement and the absence of durable solutions for the Rohingya." With the Andaman Sea bordering Myanmar, Thailand and the Malay Peninsula, the region remains a hazardous corridor for smuggling networks.

Malaysia continues to be a favored destination for Rohingya migrants, drawn by its Muslim-majority population and existing diaspora. However, the journey often involves dangerous sea voyages facilitated by traffickers.

Since the 2017 military offensive in Myanmar that forced over 730,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh, thousands have risked their lives each year to flee ongoing violence, repression and the lack of safe, legal pathways.

International observers stress that without coordinated regional action and stronger protection mechanisms, such maritime disasters are likely to recur, compounding the humanitarian crisis and destabilizing coastal security.