Across a treacherous stretch of water, the Rohingya came by the thousands, then died by the hundreds. And though they know the dangers of fleeing by boat, many among this persecuted people say they will not stop — because the world has left them with no other choice. Last year, nearly 4,500 Rohingya — two-thirds of them women and children — fled their homeland of Myanmar and the refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh by boat, the United Nations’ refugee agency reported. Of those, 569 died or went missing while crossing the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, the highest death toll since 2014. The numbers mean one out of every eight Rohingya who attempted the crossing never made it, the UNHCR said last week. Yet despite the risks, there are no signs the stream of Rohingya is ebbing. On Thursday, Indonesian officials said another boat carrying Rohingya refugees landed in the country’s northern province of Aceh. Not a good time for Rohingya repatriation, UN Resident Coordinator says Fishermen provided food and water to 131 Rohingya, mostly women and children, who had been on board, said Marzuki, the leader of the local tribal fishing community, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. Some passengers told officials they had been at sea since last month and their boat's engine had broken down, leaving them adrift, said Lt. Col. Andi Susanto, commander of the navy base in Lhokseumawe. “Southeast Asian waters are one of the deadliest stretches in the world and a graveyard for many Rohingya who have lost their lives,” says Babar Baloch, UNHCR’s spokesman for Asia and the Pacific. “The rate of Rohingya who are dying at sea without being rescued — that’s really alarming and worrying.” Inside the squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh, where more than 750,000 ethnic Rohingya Muslims fled in 2017 following sweeping attacks by Myanmar’s military, the situation has grown increasingly desperate. Not even the threat of death at sea is enough to stop many from trying to traverse the region’s waters in a bid to reach Indonesia or Malaysia. “We need to choose the risky journey by boat because the international community has failed their responsibility,” says Mohammed Ayub, who is saving up money for a spot on one of the rickety wooden fishing boats traffickers use to ferry passengers 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) from Bangladesh to Indonesia. Global indifference toward the Rohingya crisis has left those languishing in the overcrowded camps with few alternatives to fleeing. Because Bangladesh bans the Rohingya from working, their survival is dependent upon food rations, which were slashed last year due to a drop in global donations. Returning safely to Myanmar is virtually impossible for the Rohingya, because the military that attacked them overthrew Myanmar’s democratically elected government in 2021. And no country is offering the Rohingya any large-scale resettlement opportunities. Meanwhile, a surge in killings, kidnappings and arson attacks by militant groups in the camps has left residents fearing for their lives. And so, starving, scared and out of options, they continue to board the boats. Ayub has lived in a sweltering, cramped shelter for more than six years in a camp where security and sanitation are scarce, and hope even scarcer. There is no formal schooling for his children, no way for him to earn money, no prospects for returning to his homeland and no refuge for his family amid spiraling gang violence. World must find an end to Rohingya crisis for their return to Myanmar: PM Hasina tells UK MPs “Of course I understand how dangerous the boat journey by sea is,” Ayub says. “We could die during the journey by boat. But it depends on our fate. ... It’s better to choose the dangerous way even if it’s risky, because we are afraid to stay in the camps.” Two hundred of the people who died or went missing at sea last year were aboard one boat that left Bangladesh in November. Eyewitnesses on a nearby boat told The Associated Press that the missing vessel, which was crowded with babies, children and mothers, broke down and was taking on water before it drifted off during a storm as its passengers screamed for help. It has not been seen since. It was one of several distressed boats that the region’s coastal countries neglected to save, despite the UNHCR’s requests for those countries to launch search and rescue missions. “When no action is taken, lives are lost,” says UNHCR’s Baloch. “If there is no hope restored in Rohingya lives either in Myanmar or in Bangladesh, there are no rescue attempts, (then) sadly we could see more desperate people dying in Southeast Asian seas under the watch of coastal authorities who could act to save lives.” Six of Mohammed Taher’s family members were aboard the boat that vanished in November, including his 15-year-old brother, Mohammed Amin, and two of Taher’s nephews, aged 3 and 4. Their ultimate destination was Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country where many Rohingya seek relative safety. Taher and his parents now struggle to sleep or eat, and spend their days agonizing over what became of their loved ones. Taher’s mother saw a fortune teller who said her relatives were still alive. Taher, meanwhile, dreamed that the boat made it to shore, where his relatives took refuge in a school and were able to bathe in warm water. But he remains unconvinced their journey ended so happily. And so he has vowed to tell everyone to stay off the boats, no matter how unbearable life on land has become. “I will never leave by boat on this difficult journey,” Taher says. “All the people who reached their destination are saying that it’s horrific traveling by boat.” Yet such warnings are often futile. Ayub is now preparing to sell his daughter’s jewelry to help pay for his spot on a boat. While he is frightened by the stories of those who didn’t make it, he is motivated by the stories of those who did. “Nobody would consider taking a risk by boat on a dangerous journey if they had better opportunities,” he says. “Fortunately, some people did reach their destination and got a better life. I am staying positive that Allah will save us.” FM hopeful of Rohingya repatriation soon

The low pressure area over Southeast Bay and adjoining South Andaman Sea has intensified into a well-marked low over the same area. “It is likely to intensify further. Trough of low lies over West Bengal and adjoining area,” said a Met office bulletin on Tuesday (May 09, 2023). Read More: Missouri tornado kills 5 in latest wave of severe weather Severe heat wave is sweeping Rajshahi, Netrakona, Khulna, Chuadanga and Kushtia districts and mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping other parts of Bangladesh and it may continue, it said. Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country with chances of rain or thunders at one or two places over Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions. Day and night temperature may rise slightly over the country. Read More: New weather forecasting system launched for Bangladeshi farmers

The UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has urged countries in the region to immediately rescue and safely disembark a group of Rohingya refugees in distress, reported to be drifting in a non-sea-worthy vessel in the Andaman Sea. The UNHCR had earlier received reports of some 200 Rohingya refugees being stranded on a boat off the coast of Thailand, needing urgent help. Reports suggested the boat was adrift since December 1, after its engines broke down. Read: UNHCR seeks more support from international community for Rohingyas Those on board have been without food and water for days and are suffering extreme dehydration. Unverified information suggests several Rohingya refugees have already lost their lives, among them, women and children. There is a significant risk of additional fatalities in the coming days if people are not rescued and disembarked to safety. "In line with international obligations under the law of the sea and longstanding maritime traditions, the duty to rescue persons in distress at sea should be upheld, irrespective of nationality or legal status," the UN agency said. "We appeal to all authorities in the region to fully deploy their rescue capacities and promptly facilitate disembarkation for this group to a place of safety. The priority must now be to save lives and avoid even greater tragedy." Read: Japan, UNHCR sign $3.5 million partnership deal for protection of Rohingyas in Bangladesh This incident echoes UNHCR's recent call for support and solidarity amid the rise in risky Andaman Sea crossings. The UNHCR and humanitarian partners observed a dramatic su

The well-marked low over Southeast Bay and adjoining South Andaman Sea moved slightly Northwestwards and intensified into a depression. It is likely to intensify further and move in a Northwesterly direction, said a bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Around 12 pm Saturday it was located about 1425 Kms south of Chattogram Port, 1340 Kms South of Cox’s Bazar Port, 1460 Kms South-Southeast of Mongla Port and 1405 Kms South-Southeast of Payra port. The maximum sustained wind speed within 44 kms of the depression centre is about 40 KPH rising to 50 KPH in gusts . However sea will remain moderate near the depression center. Also read: Low pressure over Bay turns into well-marked low The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist distant cautionary signal number one. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to come close to the coast, proceed with caution and not to venture in the deep sea. The government is taking necessary preparations as cyclone ‘Ashani’ is likely to hit Bangladesh coast, said state minister for disaster management and relief Md Enamur Rahman on Thursday. Also read: Deep depression over Bay likely to weaken gradually Cyclone ‘Ashani’ may hit Satkhira district after hitting northeast India’s Odisha and West Bengal, the state minister told reporters after a meeting on cyclone preparedness at the Secretariat.

The low pressure area over South Andaman Sea and adjoining area has intensified into a well-marked low and now lies over Southeast Bay and adjoining South Andaman Sea. It is likely to intensify further and move in a Northwesterly direction, said a Met office bulletin. The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to follow necessary instructions. Also read: Caution for maritime ports: Low pressure over Bay intensifies Trough of westerly low lies over West Bengal and adjoining area. Besides, the Met office predicted that rain or thunder showers accompanied by intense lightning flashes and temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at a few places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Dhaka and  Chattogram divisions. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country. Also read: Deep depression over Bay likely to weaken gradually Day and night temperature may rise slightly over the country.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday urged the other countries and human rights bodies to come forward to share the burden of Rohingyas, saying that Bangladesh has done enough.

UN agencies have urged the countries in the region to share responsibility to protect refugees saying this human tragedy will continue to unfold over and over again unless there are collective efforts to address interlocking issues.

The European Union (EU) has urged the governments in the region to conduct rescue operation and find a solution for safe disembarkation of floating Rohingyas at sea following example shown by Bangladesh.    The EU said Bangladesh granted safe landing and assistance to 400 Rohingyas on one of the boats on April 16, showing continued generosity and humanity.    "We hope that countries in the region will follow this example," said High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell and Commissioner Janez Lenarčič in a statement on the situation of the Rohingya people in the waters of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.    Several hundreds of Rohingya people, including women and children, have been drifting for weeks at sea in appalling conditions, being pushed away from the shores in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.    Earlier, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said the around 500 Rohingyas who are on two boats are not in or even near the Bangladesh maritime border.    He pointed out that according to the law of the seas, other countries in the region have responsibilities to save the Rohingyas.    The EU urged all armed forces in Myanmar to urgently implement an unconditional ceasefire and recommit to an all-inclusive peace process.    This would help addressing the root causes of the plight of the Rohingyas.    The EU is a key humanitarian and development donor for the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and it stands ready to provide further support in the region.    "We continue to advocate for the safe, sustainable, dignified, and voluntary return of the Rohingya refugees to their places of origin and for ensuring full accountability for the crimes committed against them," the statement reads.