(13 November 2025) – The Civil Society Network on Refugee and Asylum Seeker Issues in Indonesia expresses its deep concern and sympathy for the victims of the recent boat tragedy off the coast of Malaysia, which reportedly carried Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. According to reports, the boat that was carrying around 70 individuals sank near the maritime border between Malaysia and Thailand after departing from Myanmar’s Rakhine State. At least 21 people have died, 13 have been rescued, and dozens remain missing as search and rescue operations continue across a wide area near Ko Tarutao, north of Malaysia’s Langkawi Island. The incident is believed to be part of a larger movement involving up to 300 people traveling on multiple boats. This tragic loss of life is yet another stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by the Rohingya people and the urgent need for shared regional responsibility to ensure protection and safety for those seeking refuge.
The recent tragedy underscores the alarming rise in dangerous sea journeys across the region and the persistent vulnerability of Rohingya refugees compelled to undertake such routes in search of safety. Inadequate support and limited prospects in refugee camps in Bangladesh, combined with intensifying conflict and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Myanmar, have driven more people to risk perilous voyages. A significant number of those making these crossings are women and children, revealing the profound human toll of displacement and the absence of safe, sustainable alternatives. Over the past year, it is estimated that more than 5,300 Rohingya have embarked on these treacherous journeys from Bangladesh and Myanmar, with at least 600 reported missing or presumed dead.
These repeated incidents show that such tragedies are not isolated but part of a wider regional crisis that requires collective attention. In Indonesia, similar events have occurred in recent years, including the capsizing of a boat off West Aceh in March 2024 that claimed the lives of 67 passengers, among them 27 children. According to information gathered by UNHCR, over 1,000 Rohingya refugees are believed to have died or gone missing at sea in 2023 and 2024 alone. Refugees who survive these journeys often report experiencing violence, exploitation, and deprivation during their time at sea, yet many continue to embark despite knowing the risks, driven by fear, uncertainty, and the absence of safe pathways.
Protecting lives at sea and ensuring timely rescue for those in distress are fundamental humanitarian obligations under international law. To prevent further loss of life, countries in the region must demonstrate stronger collective responsibility and cooperation in providing protection and sustainable solutions for asylum seekers, refugees, migrants, and stateless persons along key migration routes. At the same time, lasting progress requires addressing the root causes of displacement and advancing a political resolution to the ongoing crisis in Myanmar. The Civil Society Network on Refugee and Asylum Seeker Issues in Indonesia calls on the Government of Indonesia, ASEAN and its bodies, including the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), as well as the wider international community to strengthen regional cooperation, establish safe, legal, and dignified pathways for those seeking protection, and support resolution in Myanmar. Without such measures, refugees will remain compelled to risk their lives through dangerous sea journeys in search of safety and hope.
Civil Society Network on Refugee and Asylum Seeker Issues in Indonesia:
Perkumpulan Suaka untuk Perlindungan Hak Pengungsi (SUAKA)
Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)
Jesuit Refugee Service Indonesia (JRS Indonesia)
MER-C (Medical Emergency Rescue Committee)
Yayasan Kesehatan Perempuan (YKP)
Yayasan Kemanusiaan Madani Indonesia (YKMI)
Yayasan Cita Wadah Swadaya (YCWS)
Dompet Dhuafa
Yayasan Geutanyoe
KontraS Aceh
Human Rights Working Group (HRWG)
Media Contact:
Angga Reynady: 0819 4943 4214
Annabella Arawinda: 0851 2123 0272
The bilingual (Indonesian and English) version of this joint statement can be downloaded from the following document: