Article image

The Andaman Sea's Deadly Passage and the Stateless Exodus

Monday, 10 November 2025 13:11

Summary

The sinking of a migrant vessel off the Thai-Malaysian coast in November 2025, which left at least 13 dead and hundreds missing, underscored the escalating humanitarian crisis facing the Rohingya people. Driven from Myanmar by systematic persecution and fleeing the dire, aid-starved conditions of refugee camps in Bangladesh, thousands of Rohingya are forced to entrust their lives to brutal human trafficking networks for a perilous sea journey across the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The tragedy near Langkawi is a stark reminder of the region's policy vacuum, where Southeast Asian nations, none of which are signatories to the 1951 Refugee Convention, continue to treat asylum seekers as illegal migrants. The desperation of a stateless population, caught between violence at home and neglect abroad, has turned one of the world's busiest shipping lanes into a graveyard.

The Unbearable Pressure of Statelessness

The journey that ended in tragedy near the maritime border of Thailand and Malaysia began in the crucible of persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine State and the despair of the world’s largest refugee settlement in Bangladesh. The Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority, have been rendered stateless by Myanmar’s 1982 Nationality Law, which denies them citizenship and official recognition. This legal exclusion forms the basis for decades of systematic abuse, which international bodies have described as amounting to the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution. The most recent wave of displacement began with the brutal military crackdown in August 2017, which forced over 700,000 Rohingya to flee across the border into Bangladesh. Today, approximately 630,000 Rohingya remain inside Rakhine State, with about 150,000 confined to open-air detention camps where they face severe movement restrictions and aid blockages. The ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar, which intensified following the 2021 military coup, has further exacerbated the crisis. Rohingya communities are now caught between the military junta and the ethnic Arakan Army (AA), with both armed groups accused of committing abuses, including forced conscription of men and boys. The town of Buthidaung, the reported departure point for the vessel that sank in November 2025, was the site of shelling, looting, and burning by Arakan Army forces in May 2025. This escalating violence and the denial of basic rights and food security create an overwhelming push factor for those still in Myanmar.

The Desperation of the Camps

For the more than one million Rohingya refugees living in the sprawling, overcrowded camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, the conditions have become increasingly untenable. The settlements, which cover only 24 square kilometres, are facing a severe humanitarian funding crisis. Successive cuts to international aid have led to a sharp decline in essential services, pushing families into extreme desperation. In February 2025, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported a 27 per cent increase in admissions for children under five suffering from severe acute malnutrition compared to the previous year. Health service delivery is under strain, with multiple primary health centres and health posts operating at reduced capacity or closing entirely due to funding suspensions. Education is also at risk, with UNICEF forced to temporarily close most schools in June 2025, affecting nearly 150,000 children. Although fundraising efforts allowed children to resume learning, the threat of a complete closure in early 2026 looms, which would leave over 300,000 children without access to education. The lack of safety, education, and legal work opportunities, combined with the constant threat of exploitation, child marriage, and recruitment by armed groups, has eroded hope for a dignified future. This growing hopelessness in the camps is the primary engine driving the dangerous maritime exodus.

The Traffickers' Route and the Sea's Toll

The perilous sea route across the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea has become one of the world’s deadliest stretches of water. The journeys are typically undertaken between November and March when the sea conditions are more favourable, though the desperation is now so acute that voyages occur year-round. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) recorded a sharp increase in these attempts, noting that more than 5,100 Rohingya had embarked on sea journeys between January and early November 2025, with nearly 600 reported dead or missing before the latest sinking. The entire operation is controlled by ruthless human trafficking syndicates who exploit the vulnerability of the stateless population. The cost of passage to Southeast Asia, primarily Malaysia or Indonesia, can be a small fortune by local standards, with traffickers demanding ransoms of up to £3,000 (approximately $3,700 USD) from relatives once the refugees are already at sea or held in jungle camps. Survivors have recounted being beaten, extorted, and held in inhumane conditions until payment is secured. The vessel that sank in November 2025 was part of a larger operation that began with a 'mother ship' carrying approximately 300 people from Myanmar. As the vessel neared the Thai-Malaysian border, the passengers were instructed to transfer onto three smaller, unseaworthy boats, each carrying about 100 people, a common tactic used by syndicates to evade detection by maritime patrols.

A Tragedy Near Langkawi

The sinking occurred near the Thai-Malaysian maritime border, close to Malaysia’s Langkawi island and Thailand’s Tarutao Island. The boat is believed to have capsized around November 6, 2025. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) launched a search and rescue operation on November 8, covering an area of over 250 square nautical miles. As of November 10, 2025, rescuers from Malaysia and Thailand had recovered a total of 13 bodies, including a Rohingya woman and two Rohingya girls. Thirteen survivors were found, consisting of 11 Rohingya and two Bangladeshi nationals. The fate of the other two smaller boats, which were carrying an estimated 230 people from the original group, remains unknown, leading to grave fears of a much higher death toll. The incident highlights the extreme vulnerability of the migrants, who are often left adrift by traffickers once the final payment is made or when maritime patrols are sighted. The UNHCR immediately urged regional governments to intensify search and rescue efforts and take concrete action to prevent further tragedies.

The Regional Policy Vacuum

The response to the crisis is complicated by the lack of a unified regional asylum framework in Southeast Asia. Neither Malaysia nor Thailand are signatories to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, meaning they have no legal obligation to grant asylum or refugee status. Malaysia, the most popular destination due to its Muslim-majority population, hosts the largest number of Rohingya refugees in the region, estimated at over 100,000. However, under Malaysian law, refugees are considered undocumented migrants and are subject to arrest and detention. Despite this, the Malaysian government has historically shown a degree of informal tolerance, underpinned by a policy of global Muslim solidarity, and many Rohingya work informally. In a potential policy shift, the Malaysian government announced in February 2025 that it was considering granting legal work rights to UNHCR-registered refugees, including the Rohingya, as part of a broader effort to manage asylum seekers. Thailand’s policy is similarly restrictive, lacking a national legal framework for refugee management. Both countries have a documented history of 'pushbacks' at sea, where vessels carrying refugees are turned away from their shores, leaving them stranded in international waters. As Malaysia prepares to assume the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2025, its Foreign Minister stated that addressing the Rohingya issue and supporting a pragmatic regional response based on the Five-Point Consensus would be a priority. However, without a fundamental shift towards recognising the rights of refugees, the cycle of persecution, perilous journeys, and maritime tragedy is set to continue.

Conclusion

The sinking of the migrant boat in the Andaman Sea is not an isolated accident but a predictable consequence of a protracted crisis and a regional policy failure. The Rohingya are trapped between the genocidal policies and escalating conflict in their homeland and the increasingly desperate conditions in the refugee camps of Bangladesh. The sea journey, facilitated by criminal trafficking networks, represents a final, deadly resort for those who have exhausted all other options for a life of dignity and safety. The high death toll in 2025, with nearly 600 reported dead or missing before this latest incident, confirms the Andaman Sea as a humanitarian disaster zone. Until Myanmar addresses the root cause of statelessness and persecution, and until Southeast Asian nations adopt a coordinated, rights-based approach to search, rescue, and asylum, the bodies of the stateless will continue to wash up on the shores of the region.

References

  1. Boat with Rohingya migrants sinks off Malaysia, hundreds missing

    Supports the core facts of the sinking, including the date (Nov 9-10, 2025), location (Thai-Malaysian border, Langkawi), initial number of people (~300), the split into smaller boats, and the UNHCR data on sea journeys in 2025.

  2. Rohingya Boat Tragedy Kills Seven Off Malaysian Coast | Streamline Feed

    Provides details on the estimated date of capsizing (Nov 6, 2025), the number of dead (seven) and rescued (13), the origin (Buthidaung, Rakhine state), the 'mother ship' tactic, and the fate of the other two boats.

  3. Rohingya refugee boat capsizes: At least 7 dead, hundreds missing near Thailand-Malaysia border; rescue operations under way - The Times of India

    Confirms the death toll (seven dead, 13 rescued), the number of people on the original vessel (~300), the split into three boats, and the UNHCR data on sea deaths in 2025.

  4. 13 dead, 13 rescued after ship carrying Rohingya migrants capsizes off Malaysia-Thailand coast - Muslim Network TV

    Provides the most comprehensive death toll figure (13 dead: 7 Malaysia, 6 Thailand) and confirms the 13 rescued, the initial 300 people, and the three-boat split.

  5. Hundreds Missing After Rohingya Boat Sinks Off Malaysia - World news - Tasnim News Agency

    Confirms the number of missing (hundreds), the initial group size (~300), the three-boat split, the origin (Rakhine state), and the UNHCR data on sea deaths in 2025.

  6. Malaysia steps up search for missing Rohingya boats, at least 11 dead - ARY News

    Provides details on the search area (255.7 sq nautical miles), the number of survivors (13, including 11 Rohingya and 2 Bangladeshi), and the fate of the other boat (carrying 230 passengers).

  7. Rohingya migrant boat sinks near Thai–Malaysian border, killing 11 and leaving hundreds missing - Nation Thailand

    Confirms the total number of people on the original vessel (~300), the three-boat split, and the UNHCR data on sea deaths in 2025.

  8. Malaysia steps up search for missing Rohingya boats; at least 13 dead | The Straits Times

    Confirms the total death toll (13 dead: 7 Malaysia, 6 Thailand), the number of survivors (13), the date of the split (Nov 6), and the search area (877 sq km).

  9. 7 Myanmar migrants dead and 13 rescued after boat capsizes near Malaysia

    Confirms the number of dead (seven) and rescued (13), the origin (Buthidaung, Rakhine state), the split into three boats, and the UNHCR data on sea deaths in 2025.

  10. 7 Myanmar migrants dead and 13 rescued after boat capsizes near Malaysia - Times Union

    Confirms the number of dead (seven) and rescued (13), the origin (Buthidaung, Rakhine state), the split into three boats, and the UNHCR data on sea deaths in 2025.

  11. Malaysia searches for migrants after deadly boat sinking - A News

    Confirms the number of dead (seven) and rescued (13), the initial group size (~300), the three-boat split, and the location (Tarutao Island/Langkawi).

  12. World Report 2025: Myanmar | Human Rights Watch

    Provides extensive context on the persecution in Myanmar in 2025, including the number of Rohingya remaining (630,000), the 150,000 in open-air camps, the conflict between the junta and Arakan Army, forced conscription, and the attack on Buthidaung.

  13. 8 Years On: Accountability needed for Myanmar atrocities against Rohingya

    Supports the context of the 2017 atrocities, the number of people who fled (700,000), and the ongoing abuses by the junta and Arakan Army, as well as the dire conditions in Cox's Bazar camps.

  14. The Rohingya crisis in 2025, explained | Concern Worldwide

    Provides the total number of displaced Rohingya (1.28 million), the number in Bangladesh (over 1 million), the cause (2017 military crackdown), and the historical context of statelessness and persecution.

  15. Starving to death: the latest phase of the Rohingya genocide, June 2025 - ReliefWeb

    Supports the context of starvation and aid blockades in Rakhine State in 2025.

  16. “If we die, we die”: Myanmar's Rakhine pushed to the brink - The New Humanitarian

    Supports the context of abuses by both the junta and the Arakan Army in Rakhine State.

  17. The Rohingya: stateless humans - Peace Insight

    Supports the historical context of the 1982 Nationality Law and the 'ethnic cleansing' following the 2017 attacks.

  18. Myanmar's Rohingya: stateless, persecuted and fleeing - Yahoo News Singapore

    Supports the context of statelessness, the 1982 law, and the 2017 military crackdown.

  19. Aid cuts could be paid in children's lives in Rohingya camps: UN - Hindustan Times

    Provides data on the impact of aid cuts in Cox's Bazar, including the rise in malnutrition and the reliance on aid.

  20. World Turns Away as Rohingya Refugee Camps in Bangladesh Near Collapse Following Fresh Influx

    Supports the context of overcrowding, sanitation issues, and the threat to education services in the camps in 2025.

  21. Rohingya refugees express feeling unsafe, lacking control over their future | MSF

    Provides data on the insecurity and lack of control felt by refugees in Cox's Bazar, and the impact of aid cuts on healthcare.

  22. UN to hold Rohingya conference as refugee camps face aid crisis - YouTube

    Supports the context of rising malnutrition, shrinking food rations, and the threat to education in the camps in 2025.

  23. WHO Cox's Bazar: Rohingya emergency crisis - Situation Report: 2025

    Supports the context of health service strain and funding suspensions in the camps in 2025.

  24. UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom visits Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, where funding cuts are putting half a million children's futures at risk

    Provides data on the number of children affected by school closures (150,000 in June 2025, 300,000 at risk in 2026) and the increase in severe acute malnutrition admissions in 2025.

  25. Southeast Asia's traffickers prey on Rohingyas' misery | World News - Hindustan Times

    Provides historical context on the cost of passage ($1,100) and the use of jungle camps for ransom.

  26. Refugee protection, human smuggling, and trafficking in Bangladesh and Southeast Asia - Mixed Migration Centre

    Supports the context of trafficking tactics (scaling down operations), the lack of Refugee Convention ratification by Malaysia and Thailand, and the legal status of Rohingya in Malaysia.

  27. 10 Years of Rohingya Refugees Stranded at Sea | Human Rights Watch

    Supports the description of the Andaman Sea as one of the deadliest, the push factors (violence, hopelessness), the destination (Malaysia/Indonesia), and the history of pushbacks and extortion by traffickers.

  28. Preying on the Rohingya | Reuters Graphics

    Supports the context of traffickers demanding ransom and the use of violence to secure payment.

  29. Death, abuse and torture: traffickers hold fleeing Rohingya to ransom for up to £3000 a time

    Supports the figure for ransom demands (£3,000) and the use of abuse and torture by traffickers.

  30. Malaysia to address Rohingya refugees issue as ASEAN 2025 chair, says Foreign Minister

    Supports Malaysia's policy stance as ASEAN 2025 chair and the legal status of Rohingya as undocumented migrants.

  31. Thousands of Rohingya find refuge under Malaysia's informal refugee policy

    Supports the context of Malaysia's informal tolerance of Rohingya refugees and the reason for its popularity (Muslim-majority).

  32. Malaysia turns away hundreds of Rohingya refugees amid concerns by the local community 24 January 2025 | UNISCI

    Supports the context of Malaysia turning away Rohingya boats in 2025.

  33. Malaysia Plans to Allow Refugees, Including Rohingya, to Work Legally

    Supports the information about Malaysia's potential policy shift in 2025 to grant legal work rights to UNHCR-registered refugees.