Dhaka, April 17 -- Nearly 900 Rohingya refugees have been reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal in 2025, according to the data from UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.

It is the deadliest year on record for maritime movements in South and South-East Asia, the agency said in a briefing on Friday.

Of the 6,500 Rohingya who attempted dangerous sea crossings last year, one in seven have been reported missing or dead, the UN agency says. This makes it the highest mortality rate of any major route for refugee and migrant sea journeys worldwide.

Over half of those attempting these crossings in recent years have been women and children, UNHCR notes.

In 2026, more than 2,800 Rohingya have undertaken the dangerous sea journeys...