The recent sinking of a boat carrying 70 Rohingya refugees near Malaysian waters is yet another reminder of how the region continues to fall short in protecting people fleeing humanitarian crises. Yayasan Cita Wadah Swadaya (YCWS), together with the Civil Society Network on Refugee and Asylum Seeker Issues in Indonesia, expresses deep concern and sympathy for the victims and calls for shared responsibility to strengthen refugee protection.
According to reports, the boat sank near the maritime border between Malaysia and Thailand shortly after departing from Rakhine State, Myanmar. At least 21 people have been confirmed dead, 13 survivors have been rescued, and dozens remain missing. Search and rescue teams continue to comb a wide area around Ko Tarutao, north of Langkawi Island, Malaysia.
Authorities believe that this incident is part of a larger movement involving as many as 300 people traveling on multiple boats. The tragedy underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by Rohingya communities—and how dangerous sea routes have increasingly become their only available option.
This tragedy is far from isolated. Over the past year, more than 5,300 Rohingya refugees have attempted to leave Bangladesh and Myanmar by sea, with at least 600 reported missing or dead. Many of them are women and children, who remain the most exposed to violence, exploitation, and severe neglect during these journeys.
Indonesia is no stranger to such heartbreak. In March 2024, a boat capsized off the coast of West Aceh, killing 67 people, including 27 children. According to UNHCR, more than 1,000 Rohingya refugees are believed to have died or gone missing at sea between 2023 and 2024. Survivors often recount harrowing experiences of abuse, exploitation, and severe deprivation while at sea. Yet many continue their journeys—driven by fear, uncertainty, and the lack of any safe alternatives.
Many Rohingya families take these risks because they simply have no other choice. Conflict in Myanmar remains unresolved, refugee camps in Bangladesh are overcrowded and increasingly restrictive, and safe pathways are nearly non-existent. For many, the dangerous sea becomes a desperate last resort.
The civil society network urges governments in the region to share responsibility. Countries must strengthen cooperation, ensure non-discriminatory search-and-rescue operations, and establish safe, legal, and dignified pathways for those seeking protection. At the same time, resolving the political crisis in Myanmar is essential and cannot be delayed.
Without collective action, refugees will continue to risk their lives on perilous sea journeys—seeking nothing more than safety and hope.
Civil Society Network on Refugee and Asylum Seeker Issues in Indonesia:
- Perkumpulan Suaka untuk Perlindungan Hak Pengungsi (SUAKA)
- Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)
- Jesuit Refugee Service Indonesia (JRS Indonesia)
- MER-C (Medical Emergency Rescue Committee)
- Yayasan Kesehatan Perempuan (YKP)
- Yayasan Kemanusiaan Madani Indonesia (YKMI)
- Yayasan Cita Wadah Swadaya (YCWS)
- Dompet Dhuafa
- Yayasan Geutanyoe
- KontraS Aceh
- Human Rights Working Group (HRWG)
