There has an alarming rise of Rohingyas refugees dying at sea fleeing their Myanmar homeland or Bangladesh since last year, the UN said Tuesday, warning that more lives will lost without rapid action.
UNHCR, the refugee agency of the United Nations, says that more than 3,500 Rohingya tried to cross the sea in 2022, a dramatic increase over the year before.
According to UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo, at least 348 people have fallen victim to sea-related deaths or went missing at sea since the beginning of 2022.
Alarming rise of Rohingyas
The Rohingya disembarked in Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia and Bangladesh last year, mostly from sea attempts. Women and kids made up almost 45% of those who did so.
“Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh are in dire need of help, as shown by the majority of boats leaving from Myanmar and Bangladesh,” Mantoo pointed out.
“A number of people have disembarked, stating that they were seeking safety and security, reunification of their families, and livelihoods.”
“The victims include those who have been victims of human trafficking, children who are living unaccompanied or separated from their families, as well as those who have suffered from gender-based and sexual violence.”
The Muslim-minority Rohingya
There were horror stories of killings, rapes, and arson among the Muslim-minority Rohingya in Bangladesh as a result of a military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017.
Following the mass exodus, Myanmar is accuse of genocide by the United Nations’ top court.
Many boats adrift for weeks have not rescued or disembark despite calls from UNHCR to maritime authorities.
A crisis of solidarity is currently affecting the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, she said.
In countries where Rohingya refugees disembark, the UNHCR urges a comprehensive regional response that addresses human trafficking, search and rescue efforts, and support.
Rohingya are fleeing Myanmar for a variety of reasons, and it is seeking solutions to these issues.
Unless an immediate response is take, he said, “more people will lose their lives on the high seas” as they trek to safety on dangerous journeys.
