Bangkok: Twenty-one people, including two teenage girls, have been confirmed dead after a boat carrying dozens of Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar’s Rakhine state sank in the Andaman Sea near the Thai-Malaysian border. The tragedy highlights the ongoing plight of the Rohingya people, who continue to risk their lives in search of safety and a better future.

According to Save the Children, the incident comes amidst an increase in dangerous boat journeys by Rohingya families as the rainy season in the region ends. Many are compelled to leave Myanmar and Bangladesh due to unsafe conditions and lack of opportunities, despite the life-threatening risks posed by unseaworthy boats operated by smugglers and traffickers.

Arshad Malik, Asia Regional Director for Save the Children, emphasized the difficult decisions faced by Rohingya families. He noted that the choice to board these boats is driven by dire circumstances, with families hoping for a better life despite knowing the dangers involved. Tragically, many children travel alone, facing risks of abuse and death at sea.

The organization calls for regional cooperation and responsibility-sharing to prevent further loss of life and to protect vulnerable Rohingya children and families. Save the Children praised local communities in Malaysia and authorities for their life-saving efforts and urged all regional governments to ensure safe disembarkation and provide necessary assistance and protection to refugees.

The incident occurs as conditions in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh—the world’s largest refugee camp with over one million Rohingya refugees—continue to worsen. Funding cuts have reduced essential services, compelling some families to undertake perilous sea journeys. Since fleeing violence in Myanmar over eight years ago, the Rohingya remain stateless and reliant on humanitarian aid, living in overcrowded conditions.

Statistics reveal that in the first half of this year, approximately 1,088 Rohingya refugees, including 87 children, embarked on sea journeys from Bangladesh, a significant increase from the same period last year. This underscores the urgent need for international intervention to address the root causes of this ongoing humanitarian crisis.