Record number of Rohingya refugees died at sea last year, UNHCR says

Lead

The United Nations refugee agency has reported that nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were dead or missing in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea in 2025, making it the deadliest year on record for maritime movements in South and South East Asia. The UNHCR announced the figures on Friday, warning that thousands of people are continuing to make the dangerous journeys in 2026.

Coverage Comparison

Both Al Jazeera and The Hindu covered the UNHCR announcement, with consistent reporting on the core figures. Al Jazeera's report highlighted the UN's warning that the sea routes have become an "unmarked graveyard for thousands of desperate Rohingya refugees," and emphasized the humanitarian conditions driving the exodus. The Hindu's report focused on the record number of deaths and the perils of the sea journeys, using a more neutral tone. Both sources cited the UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch as the primary source.

Key Claims

UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch told reporters in Geneva that nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal in 2025. He described the area as an "unmarked graveyard for thousands of desperate Rohingya refugees," noting that some 5,000 are thought to have drowned at sea over the last decade, a figure reported by Al Jazeera.

Earlier this month, an overcrowded trawler carrying about 250 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals sank in the Andaman Sea, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives, according to both sources. This incident underscores the ongoing dangers faced by those attempting the sea crossing.

More than 2,800 Rohingya have made sea journeys this year, with most leaving from Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh or Rakhine State in Myanmar, hoping to reach Malaysia or Indonesia, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Perspectives

The UNHCR attributes the continued sea crossings to ongoing conflict, persecution, and the absence of citizenship prospects for Rohingya in Myanmar, as stated by Baloch. Al Jazeera's coverage also highlighted that humanitarian aid in Bangladesh has been reduced due to funding shortfalls, and there is limited access to education and opportunities in the camps, prompting people to attempt the dangerous voyages.

Al Jazeera reported that in recent years, over half of those making the sea journeys have been women and children, who are at risk of trafficking and exploitation. The Hindu's report did not include these details but noted that the Rohingya undertake perilous sea journeys every year in search of better living conditions, travelling aboard rickety boats often operated by trafficking networks.

Both sources agree that the situation remains critical, with the UN warning that deaths are continuing to soar in 2026. The reports from the two outlets provide a consistent picture of the crisis, though Al Jazeera offers a more detailed account of the underlying humanitarian factors.