UNHCR calls for support, solidarity amid rise in risky Andaman Sea crossings
This year, an increasing number of individuals are attempting to perilously cross the Andaman Sea than ever previously, according to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and humanitarian collaborators.
From January to November 2022, 1,920 individuals—predominantly Rohingya—journeyed by sea from Myanmar and Bangladesh, representing more than a sixfold rise from the 287 who undertook this in 2021.
The UNHCR cautions that undertaking these voyages places individuals at significant dangers and possibly lethal consequences. Unfortunately, in this year alone, 119 individuals have been reported deceased or missing during these voyages.
The latest arrivals included over 200 individuals who landed on two vessels in North Aceh, Indonesia, a fortnight ago. The UNHCR acknowledges the actions taken by the authorities to ensure the groups’ safety upon their arrival and reception.
A former Immigration office in Lhokseumawe is presently accommodating refugees who safely landed on the Indonesian shore. To assist the refugees, including through registration, meeting their fundamental needs, and guaranteeing secure and appropriate housing for the two groups, UNHCR is present on-site and cooperating closely with local authorities.
Unverified reports of additional vessels adrift at sea with individuals who urgently require life-saving aid have also been relayed to UNHCR.
The UNHCR and humanitarian partners persist in underscoring the necessity for enhanced regional and international collaboration to preserve lives and share responsibility as escalating levels of despair and vulnerability compel more refugees to undertake these hazardous journeys.
Indonesia should not bear the sole responsibility for rescuing and disembarking those lost at sea; the country currently accommodates nearly 13,000 refugees and asylum seekers, the majority originating from Afghanistan, Somalia, and Myanmar.
States within the region must honour the commitments they made to the Bali Process in 2005 to collaborate in discovering resolutions for those undertaking these desperate journeys.
Seven years ago, when the crisis in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal initially commenced, the Bali Process established the importance of a reliable and coordinated response to this regional dilemma. Responsibility-sharing and united action across South-East Asia are essential for a comprehensive and equitable response, ensuring that those who facilitate disembarkation and transport the distressed to safety do not bear an excessive burden.
Prior to a ministerial summit next year, participants in the Bali Process will gather in Indonesia next week to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the process. In order to save lives, UNHCR and its humanitarian partners stress the need for heightened regional and global cooperation. Deteriorating conditions and rising desperation are propelling more individuals to undertake these perilous journeys.
