Ten years have passed since the global spotlight was cast on the plight of Rohingya refugees stranded in the Andaman Sea. In May 2015, an estimated 8,000 Rohingya were left adrift after pushbacks by Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. This crisis prompted regional and international pledges to improve protection for migrants and trafficking victims.
Despite these promises, perilous journeys continue. The UNHCR reports that nearly one out of five people attempting sea movements in the region have been reported dead or missing in 2025. Over a thousand Rohingya are known to have died or gone missing at sea in the past year.
Rohingya refugees flee from persecution in Myanmar and harsh conditions in Bangladesh’s camps. Most aim for Malaysia or Indonesia despite risks such as boat pushbacks and detention. A young Rohingya man recounted being beaten by smugglers who held him and his family due to unpaid fees.
Indian authorities recently sent dozens of Rohingya refugees away on a navy ship, abandoning them to swim ashore to a Myanmar island. The UNHCR estimates that from 2022 to 2024, about 33,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Regional events like the ASEAN Summit and a U.N. General Assembly meeting present opportunities for coordinated action to protect Rohingya refugees across Asia. Governments are urged to end pushbacks, screen trafficking victims, provide access to protection, and ensure they are not forcibly returned to Myanmar.
The international community is called upon to hold Myanmar accountable for its actions against the Rohingya so that dangerous asylum-seeking efforts might cease.
