About 250 Rohingya and Bangladeshis, including children, are missing after their boat capsized last week in the Andaman Sea, according to the United Nations' refugee and migration agencies.
The trawler, which had departed from Bangladesh and was bound for Malaysia, 'reportedly sank due to heavy winds, rough seas and overcrowding', the agencies said.
It is unclear when the boat capsized, but on April 9, a Bangladesh-flagged vessel rescued nine people who were 'clinging to drums and wooden debris' to stay afloat, the coast guard reported.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya, one of Myanmar's many ethnic minorities, have been fleeing across the border into Bangladesh since a deadly crackdown in 2017. The Rohingya, who are primarily Muslim, are denied citizenship by the government of Myanmar, a Buddhist-majority country.
Poor living conditions in Bangladesh have prompted some Rohingya to make perilous journeys on overcrowded vessels to Malaysia, a country they view as a potential safe haven.
Quoting those rescued after last week's incident, a Coast Guard member mentioned that they had left Bangladesh for Malaysia on April 4 'in the hope of a better life.'
On April 7 or 8, their boat was caught in a storm. Survivors reported floating at sea for nearly two days until they were discovered.
Survivors told the coast guard they had seen nearly 100 people aboard the capsized vessel, but the exact number of missing individuals remains unknown.
The United Nations officials expressed concern over the dire circumstances of the Rohingya and called on the international community for assistance and sustainable solutions.
This tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the ongoing refugee crisis and the extreme measures people take to escape perilous situations.
