Political will key to tackle forced migration

Perilous journey: Rohingya refugees waiting to be rescued on their capsized wooden boat off West Aceh in March. Only 75 out of the 140 refugees were saved. — AP

IN 2023, one in eight Rohingya refugees who undertook the perilous journey across the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal was reported to have died or gone missing. This makes it possibly the most dangerous refugee journey in the world. It also highlights the desperation of those fleeing the crisis in Myanmar, as well as those fleeing violence and persecution from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

Indeed, 2023 marked the deadliest year at sea in the region since the 2015 Andaman Sea Crisis, in which thousands of Rohingya and Bengali refugees were stranded at sea, and a sorely inadequate regional response led to the deaths of hundreds. Most recently, a boat carrying 151 Rohingya refugees capsized off the coast of West Aceh on March 20. Only 75 were rescued. Urgent action is needed to ensure these events are not repeated in 2024 and beyond.