Every year, thousands of Rohingya refugees risk their lives to escape the dire conditions they face in their homeland of Myanmar and the overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh. Fleeing by boat, they navigate treacherous waters in the hopes of finding safety and a better future in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. However, this perilous journey has proven deadly for many Rohingya, with hundreds losing their lives at sea.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly 4,500 Rohingya, predominantly women and children, attempted the boat crossing last year. Shockingly, 569 of them died or went missing, making it the highest death toll since 2014. This means that one out of every eight Rohingya who embarked on the journey never made it to their intended destination.
