At least 250 people are feared missing after a trawler carrying passengers capsized in the Andaman Sea. The missing include Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals.
UNHCR and IOM have expressed deep concern over the incident . According to the agencies’ initial information, the trawler was sailing from the Teknaf coast of Bangladesh to Malaysia. It sank due to adverse weather conditions, rough seas and overloading.
According to UN agencies, this accident is not just an isolated incident; it is a reflection of a long-term displacement and uncertainty. The ongoing crisis in Myanmar’s Rakhine state and the uncertainty of safe repatriation are pushing the Rohingya on such a risky path.
Analysts say the limited opportunities in refugee camps, lack of education and employment, and lack of humanitarian assistance are compounding the situation. Taking advantage of this, human trafficking rings are luring helpless people on dangerous sea journeys with false promises.