Human rights organizations are sounding the alarm as 2025 has become one of the deadliest years on record for Rohingya refugees. Thousands are fleeing deteriorating conditions in Bangladesh and renewed conflict in Myanmar, undertaking perilous sea journeys in unprecedented numbers.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that by the end of May 2025 alone, at least 457 Rohingya were reported dead or missing at sea. This figure is nearly seven times higher than during the same period in 2024, with other aid groups estimating the total for the year has already surpassed 600.

This grim reality was tragically highlighted in early November 2025, when a boat carrying refugees capsized near the Thai-Malaysian border, leaving at least 27 people confirmed dead. Survivors, like 18-year-old Iman Sharif who was rescued after drifting for days, described the smugglers' brutal tactics. He told reporters they were transferred from a larger vessel onto a smaller, unseaworthy boat with about 70 others, which was designed to evade coastal patrols but sank shortly after.

This year has seen a dramatic spike in departures. According to data from Save the Children, the number of Rohingya refugees who left Bangladesh by boat tripled in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year, with at least 1,088 individuals attempting the journey. UNHCR data further shows that by May, over 3,100 people had embarked on these dangerous voyages, a 174% increase compared to the average for the same period since 2022.

This mass exodus is being driven by a "perfect storm" of desperation. The 2025 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya in Bangladesh is severely underfunded, receiving only 37% of its required budget as of August, which has forced aid agencies to slash essential food, healthcare, and education. Simultaneously, refugees in the sprawling Cox's Bazar camps report rising levels of gang violence and extortion. This is compounded by an escalating civil war inside Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine State, which has displaced tens of thousands more and extinguished any hope of a-safe return.

For those who survive the journey, the reception is far from guaranteed. In Indonesia, which has seen over 3,700 arrivals since 2023, refugees are now meeting "unprecedented resistance." In several instances in 2025, local communities in Aceh province have actively prevented boats from landing. Meanwhile, Malaysia and Thailand have largely continued their "pushback" policies. Following the deadly November sinking, Amnesty International called on regional governments to end this "unconscionable practice" and prioritize search-and-rescue.

"The decision to board these death boats is not one that Rohingya families take lightly," Arshad Malik, Asia Regional Director for Save the Children, said in a recent statement. "There are many push factors including unsafe conditions, lack of work and the prospect of a bleak future."

With the traditional "sailing season" now in full swing, aid agencies warn that without a coordinated regional response, the Andaman Sea will continue to be a graveyard for one of the world's most persecuted minorities.

BOB Post