Rohingya refugees risk deadly sea journeys
· news
Desperate Rohingya Risk Deadly Voyages at Sea as Trafficking Surges
The image of Rahela Begum clinging to a wooden plank in the Andaman Sea is a haunting reminder of the desperation that drives thousands of Rohingya refugees to risk deadly sea journeys each year. In Cox’s Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh, where nearly 900 Rohingya were reported dead or missing at sea in 2025 – the deadliest year on record – the situation has reached a breaking point.
The latest statistics from the UNHCR paint a grim picture: despite the risks, more than 6,500 Rohingya attempted to leave the camps by sea that same year. The allure of a better life outside the confines of what many describe as an “open-air prison” is too great for some to resist. But what lies behind this determination to flee?
For some refugees like Begum, who arrived in Cox’s Bazar in 2017, the decision to attempt to leave by sea was not taken lightly. Bangladesh bars most refugees from leaving the camps or working, leaving them with little choice but to turn to traffickers. Human trafficking has become a lucrative trade in this region, with recruiters and criminal gangs selling refugees the hope of a better life outside their current circumstances.
The networks involved are complex and far-reaching, involving individuals from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia. While some traffickers claim to earn up to $2,580 per shipment, it’s clear that for many refugees, the cost of attempting to flee is much higher. Coast Guard Lieutenant Mohammad Rawnak Rahman admits that authorities in Bangladesh are struggling to contain the trafficking, with efforts focused on preventing departures from camps.
Despite these efforts, the number of attempts continues to rise: between January and May 2026, Astrid Castelein, a UNHCR representative in Cox’s Bazar, notes that 2,300 refugees attempted to leave by sea. The conflict unleashed by Myanmar’s 2021 military coup continues to rage on, with more than 100,000 people reported dead or injured.
For many Rohingya, a lasting peace agreement in their home country is seen as the only real solution to their plight. But while some may view the attempts of refugees like Begum as a sign of desperation and hopelessness, others see it as a testament to their resilience and determination to survive. As Sayed Ullah, president of the United Rohingya Council, notes, “No one should be surprised that people try to leave, hoping to find something better.”
Reader Views
- EKEditor K. Wells · editor
The Rohingya refugee crisis is a stark reminder of how desperation can be exploited by traffickers and corrupt officials. While the article highlights the risks and allure of sea journeys, it overlooks the fact that many refugees are also coerced into these voyages by their own communities, who profit from their desperation. The complex networks involved in human trafficking are indeed far-reaching, but so too is the blame – it's not just traffickers and authorities to blame, but also those who enable this exploitation through silence or complicity.
- CMColumnist M. Reid · opinion columnist
The Rohingya refugee crisis is often framed as a humanitarian disaster, and rightly so. But it's also a stark reminder of our global failure to address the root causes of displacement: poverty, lack of economic opportunities, and statelessness. The UNHCR statistics only scratch the surface; what's equally disturbing is the complicity of regional governments in this trafficking racket. It's time for Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia to take responsibility for their role in perpetuating this crisis and work towards a coordinated solution that addresses the underlying drivers of migration, rather than just treating its symptoms.
- RJReporter J. Avery · staff reporter
The Rohingya refugee crisis continues to reveal its darkest underbelly with each new report of sea-borne tragedies. While human trafficking is often cited as a major factor driving refugees to attempt these perilous journeys, we should also be examining the role of economic desperation in perpetuating this cycle. The lack of viable livelihoods and freedom of movement within refugee camps is creating a toxic environment that fosters dependency on traffickers rather than encouraging self-sufficiency and resilience among Rohingya communities.