By Blessing Nweke
About 250 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, including children, are missing after an overcrowded boat capsized in the Andaman Sea last week, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration.
The trawler had departed from Bangladesh and was heading toward Malaysia when it reportedly sank due to heavy winds, rough seas and overcrowding, the agencies said. The Bangladesh Coast Guard confirmed that nine survivors were rescued on April 9, though the exact timing of the disaster remains unclear.
Survivor Rafiqul Islam told AFP he floated at sea for nearly 36 hours before being rescued, suffering burns from spilled engine oil. He said the promise of work in Malaysia motivated him to take the dangerous journey.
The Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim minority from Myanmar, have faced persecution for decades and were driven out in large numbers following a military crackdown in 2017. Many now live in overcrowded camps in places like Cox’s Bazar, where limited opportunities and shrinking aid have pushed some to attempt risky sea crossings.
“These tragedies reflect the absence of durable solutions,” the UN agencies said, noting that ongoing violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state has dimmed hopes of safe return.
Boats used in such journeys are often unsafe and lack basic supplies. Some migrants die at sea, while others are detained or turned away by regional authorities. In 2025, Malaysia rejected vessels carrying hundreds of refugees.
A Rohingya refugee previously told Reuters that many feel they are choosing between death at sea and slow suffering in camps.
The UN is urging sustained international support to address the crisis and its root causes.
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