At least 250 people missing, including Rohingya and Bangladeshis, after boat sinks in Andaman Sea
NBC News • • world
Key Points:
- At least 250 people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, are missing after a boat capsized in the Andaman Sea en route to Malaysia, according to UN refugee and migration agencies.
- Nine survivors—three Rohingya and six Bangladeshis—were rescued on April 9 by the Bangladesh-flagged vessel M.T. Meghna Pride, which found them floating at sea; these survivors are now safe and under police care in Teknaf.
- The boat, which departed from Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, sank due to overcrowding, strong winds, and rough seas, highlighting the dangerous conditions faced by refugees attempting sea crossings.
- UNHCR and IOM emphasized that ongoing violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state and limited opportunities in refugee camps are driving Rohingya to undertake perilous journeys based on false promises of better livelihoods abroad.
- The agencies called on the international community to increase funding and support for lifesaving assistance to over 1 million Rohingya refugees sheltered in Bangladesh to prevent further tragedies.
