About 250 Rohingya and Bangladeshis, including children, are missing after their boat capsized last week in the Andaman Sea, according to the United Nations' refugee and migration agencies.
The trawler, which had departed from Bangladesh and was bound for Malaysia, reportedly sank due to heavy winds, rough seas and overcrowding, the agencies said.
It is unclear when the boat capsized, but on 9 April, a Bangladesh-flagged vessel rescued nine people who were clinging to drums and wooden debris to stay afloat, the coast guard stated.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya, one of Myanmar's ethnic minorities, have been fleeing across the border into Bangladesh since a violent crackdown in 2017.
The Rohingya, primarily Muslims, have faced denial of citizenship by the Myanmar government, a predominantly Buddhist nation. Poor living conditions in Bangladesh have led some Rohingya to undertake dangerous sea journeys to Muslim-majority Malaysia, deemed a potential safe haven.
Survivors reported leaving Bangladesh on April 4, aiming for a better life, only for their boat to encounter a storm on the 7th or 8th. Following nearly two days adrift, the Motor Tanker Meghna Pride rescued them at sea.
Many others were feared lost, with survivors recalling seeing nearly 100 people before the capsizing. Rafiqul Islam, one survivor, revealed he floated for about 36 hours and suffered burns from spilled oil during the ordeal.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees highlighted the dire reality facing the Rohingyas, emphasizing the lack of durable solutions that force them onto perilous journeys seeking safety and opportunity. The statement from UN agencies called on the international community to sustain support for Rohingya refugees and address the causes of their displacement, especially given the challenging living conditions they endure in refugee camps.
The trawler, which had departed from Bangladesh and was bound for Malaysia, reportedly sank due to heavy winds, rough seas and overcrowding, the agencies said.
It is unclear when the boat capsized, but on 9 April, a Bangladesh-flagged vessel rescued nine people who were clinging to drums and wooden debris to stay afloat, the coast guard stated.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya, one of Myanmar's ethnic minorities, have been fleeing across the border into Bangladesh since a violent crackdown in 2017.
The Rohingya, primarily Muslims, have faced denial of citizenship by the Myanmar government, a predominantly Buddhist nation. Poor living conditions in Bangladesh have led some Rohingya to undertake dangerous sea journeys to Muslim-majority Malaysia, deemed a potential safe haven.
Survivors reported leaving Bangladesh on April 4, aiming for a better life, only for their boat to encounter a storm on the 7th or 8th. Following nearly two days adrift, the Motor Tanker Meghna Pride rescued them at sea.
Many others were feared lost, with survivors recalling seeing nearly 100 people before the capsizing. Rafiqul Islam, one survivor, revealed he floated for about 36 hours and suffered burns from spilled oil during the ordeal.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees highlighted the dire reality facing the Rohingyas, emphasizing the lack of durable solutions that force them onto perilous journeys seeking safety and opportunity. The statement from UN agencies called on the international community to sustain support for Rohingya refugees and address the causes of their displacement, especially given the challenging living conditions they endure in refugee camps.
