Statistics show a rise in the number of members of this group, mostly Muslims, fleeing persecution in Myanmar and facing deaths and disappearances during risky boat trips through the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.
Figures published by the organization show that 2023 saw the highest rates reported in the last nine years, with a total of 569 deaths.
Nearly 4,500 community members embarked on deadly sea voyages in 2023, a significant increase compared to previous years, with the majority of those making the journey being women and children.
According to the UNHCR, last year one Rohingya died or went missing for every eight Rohingya who made the journey, making the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal one of the deadliest bodies of water in the world.
“In a single fatal incident in November 2023, approximately 200 Rohingya were reported to have lost their lives when their boat reportedly sank in the Andaman Sea,” said organization spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh.
The company reiterated its call for regional authorities to take urgent action to prevent future tragedies and maintained its international commitment to save lives and rescue those in danger at sea.
This Muslim community is seeking refuge in neighboring countries from harassment by authorities in Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist nation.
Nearly a million Rohingya live in camps in Bangladesh and more than a thousand have arrived by boat in Indonesia in recent months.
npg/ebr