900 Rohingya dead or missing in 2025 sea journeys: UNHCR

Nearly 900 Rohingya refugees have been reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal in 2025, according to the data from UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.

It is the deadliest year on record for maritime movements in South and South-East Asia, the agency said in a briefing on Friday.

Of the 6,500 Rohingya who attempted dangerous sea crossings last year, one in seven have been reported missing or dead, the UN agency says. This makes it the highest mortality rate of any major route for refugee and migrant sea journeys worldwide.

Over half of those attempting these crossings in recent years have been women and children, UNHCR notes.

In 2026, more than 2,800 Rohingya have undertaken the dangerous sea journeys between January and Apr 13, the agency said.

UNHCR highlighted a recent incident in the Andaman Sea, when an overcrowded boat that departed Bangladesh on Mar 26 reportedly capsized. At least 250 people went missing. On Apr 9, nine survivors of the incident were rescued near the Andaman Islands.

“Despite the extreme dangers – including trafficking, exploitation, and death at sea – thousands of Rohingya refugees continue to undertake these journeys. Boats, often overcrowded and unseaworthy, typically depart from Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh or from Rakhine State in Myanmar towards Indonesia or Malaysia,” the agency said.

“While most Rohingya refugees wish to return to Myanmar once conditions allow for a voluntary, dignified and safe return, ongoing conflict, persecution and the absence of citizenship prospects leave them with little hope. Meanwhile, severe funding shortfalls have significantly reduced humanitarian aid in Bangladesh, compounded by insecurity in the camps and limited access to education and livelihoods, pushing refugees towards dangerous onward movement.”

UNCHR urged countries to address the root causes of displacement, expand safe and legal pathways, and bolster regional cooperation to save lives and combat smuggling and trafficking.

It also said that increased international support is urgent for the 2025 Joint Response Plan for the over 1.3 million Rohingya refugees and asylum-seekers who remain displaced in the region. Only about 53 percent of the plan is funded. Of these refugees, about 1.2 million are in Bangladesh.