Malaysian patrols initiated searches in the Andaman Sea for members of Myanmar’s Rohingya minority following the sinking of a boat last week, with at least 21 bodies discovered—12 in Malaysia and nine in Thailand. The regional head of Malaysia’s maritime agency, Romli Mustafa, reported that search efforts are ongoing despite poor weather conditions, with 13 survivors rescued so far. Many Rohingya on the treacherous journey lack life jackets, heightening the difficulty of enduring even 24 hours at sea.
The Rohingya, mostly Muslim, have faced significant persecution in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, leading many to flee to overcrowded camps in Bangladesh, where around 1.3 million reside. In a recent incident, several boats set sail from Bangladesh, with one small vessel carrying around 70 people sinking near Langkawi, Malaysia. The fate of another boat with approximately 230 passengers remains uncertain. Mohammed Ibrahim, a 29-year-old Rohingya who embarked on the journey, left without informing his family, causing distress for his brother back in the refugee camp.
The director of the Arakan Project, Chris Lewa, noted that over 5,100 Rohingya have attempted sea crossings from Myanmar and Bangladesh this year, with nearly 600 reported dead or missing. Malaysia, while a favored destination for these refugees, does not officially recognize their refugee status and has recently tightened immigration controls, resulting in the detention of rescued individuals pending investigations.
Both Thailand and Malaysia have mobilized air and sea efforts to locate missing individuals, which may continue for up to a week. Reports indicate that the initial boat launched from Rakhine state, with many fleeing a worsening civil war in Myanmar. Thai officials also recovered refugee identification cards issued to Rohingya children found in the waters, linking them to the Bangladeshi camps.
Desperation drives many Rohingya to undertake perilous sea journeys, as conditions in Bangladesh continue to deteriorate and the fear of returning to Myanmar remains high. Refugees express that they regard the risks of crossing the sea as preferable to the slow suffering they face in the camps. As one refuge articulated, “People are dying in the fighting, dying from hunger. So some think it’s better to die at sea than to die slowly here.”
