At least 250 people, including women and children, are missing after a boat capsized in the Andaman Sea, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The missing includes Rohingya refugees as well as Bangladeshi nationals, the agencies said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
Preliminary information indicates the trawler departed from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh carrying a large number of passengers en route to Malaysia. Overcrowding, combined with strong winds and rough seas, caused the vessel to lose control and sink. Rescue efforts have so far yielded no confirmed progress in locating those missing.
UNHCR and IOM said the incident reflects the protracted displacement of Rohingya people and the absence of durable solutions. Ongoing violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, they noted, has further dimmed prospects for safe return. Limited humanitarian assistance, along with restricted access to education and employment in refugee camps, continues to push vulnerable individuals toward risky sea journeys.
The agencies added that misinformation and trafficking networks are driving many to undertake dangerous crossings, often based on false promises of higher wages and better opportunities abroad. The Andaman Sea, they noted, has repeatedly claimed lives in such attempts.
UNHCR and IOM urged the international community to strengthen funding and solidarity to ensure life-saving assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. They also called for sustained support for host communities affected by the crisis.
As Bangladesh celebrates the New Year in a festive atmosphere, the tragedy underscores the urgent need to address the root causes of the Myanmar crisis. Without coordinated action, the agencies warned, such deadly journeys and loss of life are likely to continue.