The International Organization for Migration (IOM) expresses deep concern over reports that approximately 250 people are feared dead or missing after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized in the Andaman Sea.
The trawler, which departed from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh and was en route to Malaysia, reportedly sank on 9 April due to heavy winds, rough seas, and overcrowding.
"This incident is a stark reminder of the grave risks people continue to face when undertaking dangerous sea journeys in search of safety and better opportunities," said Mohammedali Abunajela, IOM Spokesperson. "No one should have to choose between remaining in situations of profound hardship or embarking on a journey that may cost them their lives."
The latest shipwreck underscores the devastating impact of protracted displacement and the lack of sustainable solutions for Rohingya refugees. Dire living conditions in refugee camps, limited access to services and livelihood opportunities amid declining humanitarian aid, as well as concerns over the security situation in the Rakhine State in Myanmar and prospects of safe and dignified return and reintegration, are driving people toward such perilous journeys.
Smuggling and trafficking networks further exploit these conditions for profit, placing Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals alike at serious risk.
In 2025, more than 6,500 Rohingya refugees embarked on dangerous maritime journeys from Bangladesh and Myanmar, over 890 of whom lost their lives1. On the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal specifically, deaths and disappearances increased by over 40 per cent from 2024 (598) to 2025 (860).
Saving lives and rescuing those in distress at sea is a humanitarian imperative. IOM calls on States in the region to uphold their obligations under international maritime law, including strengthening search-and-rescue efforts and ensuring the safe and timely disembarkation of those rescued.
Despite significant funding gaps, IOM and its partners continue to document these tragedies, provide life-saving assistance and basic services to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and to host communities, while working with authorities to combat smuggling and trafficking.
IOM urges the international community to step up solidarity and sustain funding for refugees and host communities in Bangladesh, as well as to address the root causes of displacement in Myanmar and enable conditions for safe and dignified return and reintegration.
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1 According to IOM's Missing Migrants Project, citing data from UNHCR.
