Dhaka, April 17 -- UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, on Friday called on States to address the root causes of displacement, expand safe and legal pathways, and strengthen regional cooperation to save lives and combat smuggling and trafficking, noting that 2025 was deadliest year yet for maritime movements of Rohingya refugees.

"In 2025, nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal, making it the deadliest year on record for maritime movements in South and South‑East Asia," said UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch in response to questions received at press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

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Over 1.3 million Rohingya refu...