Children now make up 44% of Rohingya refugees risking dangerous sea journeys, as the number of those fleeing continues to grow. In 2024, more than 7,800 refugees braved the perilous seas—an 80% increase from 2023. Tragically, 656 passengers were reported dead or missing, marking the highest death toll since 2014.
The crisis persists into 2025, with about 460 refugees taking to the sea so far. Flimsy fishing boats often spend weeks at sea, with supplies running out before reaching land. On January 5, 254 refugees landed in Aceh, Indonesia. Among them were 118 children, but 10 people were reported dead or missing, says Save the Children.
Two days earlier, 196 refugees arrived in Langkawi, Malaysia. Yet, Malaysian authorities detained the arrivals and reportedly escorted two extra boats out of their waters after providing supplies.
REGIONAL CHALLENGES: REFUGEES FACE HOSTILITY AND NEGLECT
Malaysia, which does not formally recognize refugees, often detains them as illegal migrants or turns boats away. Other regional governments have similarly failed to supply adequate protections.
Sultana Begum, Asia head of humanitarian policy for Save the Children, emphasized the dire circumstances forcing refugees to take these risks.
“Thousands of children board rickety boats with meager supplies, hoping for safety. They risk everything, driven by escalating conflict and deteriorating camp conditions,” Begum stated.
DIRE CONDITIONS IN COX’S BAZAR CAMPS
Over a million Rohingya refugees live in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh—the world’s largest refugee settlement. After fleeing violence in Myanmar seven years ago, they remain stateless and confined to overcrowded camps.
Humanitarian aid is their lifeline. Dwindling resources, violence, lack of education, and limited freedoms drive many to seek escape by sea.
SAVE THE CHILDREN: ADVOCATING FOR ACTION
Save the Children, an international NGO, has reached over 600,000 refugees in Cox’s Bazar since 2017, including more than 320,000 children.
The organization provides child protection, education, healthcare, and essentials like shelter and food. Still, the escalating crisis calls for urgent regional cooperation.
A CALL FOR REGIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY
Save the Children and other advocates urge governments to meet international obligations by allowing safe landings, offering legal protections, and addressing root causes.
“2025 must not be another year of despair for Rohingya refugees,” Begum said. “Governments must act decisively to save lives.”
KEY STATISTICS
- Children at Risk: 44% of boat refugees in 2024 were children, up from 37% in 2023.
- Deaths and Disappearances: 656 refugees died or went missing in 2024, a sharp rise from 416 in 2023.
- Ongoing Crisis: Nearly 460 refugees have fled by sea in early 2025.
The surge in dangerous journeys underscores a worsening crisis fueled by conflict in Myanmar and deteriorating conditions in Bangladesh. Regional governments must prioritize humanitarian solutions and ensure the safety of vulnerable populations.
