250 Rohingya and Bangladeshi Migrants Missing After Boat Capsizes
About 250 people are missing in the Andaman Sea. They include Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals. Children are among the missing. The United Nations refugee and migration agencies confirmed the news.
A Tragic Voyage
The boat capsized last week. It was a trawler. The vessel had departed from Bangladesh. Its destination was Malaysia. The agencies said the boat “reportedly sank due to heavy winds, rough seas and overcrowding”.
Only Nine Survivors
It is unclear exactly when the boat capsized. However, on 9 April, a Bangladesh-flagged vessel rescued nine people. The coast guard said the survivors were “clinging to drums and wooden debris” to stay afloat.A Coast Guard member spoke to the BBC. He asked not to be named. Quoting the rescued passengers, he said they left Bangladesh for Malaysia on 4 April. Their goal was “in the hope of a better life”.
A Desperate Journey
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar since 2017. A deadly crackdown forced them out. The Rohingya are primarily Muslim. Myanmar’s Buddhist-majority government denies them citizenship.Poor living conditions in Bangladesh have pushed many to leave again. They make precarious journeys on overcrowded vessels. Malaysia, a Muslim country, is seen as a potential safe haven.
