SRINAGAR: Nearly 250 people, including children, are feared missing after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized in the Andaman Sea, the United Nations reported on Tuesday, according to Ahsan Tasnim.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as reported by Al Jazeera, stated that the vessel had departed from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh and was en route to Malaysia when it likely sank due to strong winds, rough sea conditions, and overcrowding.
UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that the pursuit of better income opportunities abroad, often influenced by misleading information from human smuggling networks, continues to push both Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals into extremely risky sea journeys. They described the tragedy as a consequence of prolonged displacement and vulnerability.
The UN agencies also urged the international community to increase solidarity and ensure continued funding for humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, as well as support for affected host communities.
