The UN Refugee Agency has called on states to prioritise life-saving actions as hundreds of stateless Rohingya refugees from Myanmar have sought safety in the regional countries in the first five days of the new year.
A total of 460 men, women and children have so far arrived by boat in countries in the region, including Malaysia (196 people on 3 January) and Indonesia (264 people on 5 January) after weeks at sea.
Ten people have reportedly died during the journeys. Just three weeks before, another 115 Rohingya landed in Sri Lanka after losing six people at sea.
The tragedy is taking place as the conflict in the Southeast Asian country worsen, resulting in the displacement of over 3.5 million people.
Over 15 million people now face acute food insecurity. Disease outbreaks, including cholera, are on the rise while access constraints inhibit the delivery of medical assistance.
"Saving lives must be the first priority," said Hai Kyung Jun, director of UNHCR's Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, in a statement today.
The new arrivals come at the peak of the "sailing season" — when seas are calmer between the annual monsoon seasons — following an intensification of fighting in Myanmar.
In 2024, over 7,800 Rohingya attempted to flee the country by boat — an 80 percent increase compared to 2023, the UN High Commissioner for the Refugees (UNHCR) said.
Over 650 people died or were reported missing en route, making this one of the world's most perilous journeys.
More children embarked on the voyage, accounting for 44 percent of total passengers, up from 37 per cent in 2023. The proportion of women also increased to almost a third.
Among last year's new trends, thousands of people were so desperate to flee that they risked their lives trying to cross the Naf River to Bangladesh in severe weather during the rainy season, the UN agency said.
In addition, an increasing proportion of Rohingya have set sail directly from Myanmar whereas in the past, many left from Bangladesh's camps. There are reports of boats being pushed back to sea as well.
"While states have the legitimate right to control their borders and manage irregular movements, especially in the context of people smuggling and trafficking, such measures must guarantee the rights of people to reach safety," said Jun.
"We call on all states to continue search and rescue efforts and make sure that survivors receive the assistance and protection they need," she said.
As the situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate, more people are expected to flee in the coming months.
UNHCR said it stands ready to provide support to governments and local efforts to assist them while encouraging states to focus on protection at sea, meeting humanitarian needs and addressing false narratives and hate speech against refugees and asylum-seekers arriving on their shores.
"Greater international and regional action is also required to end the fighting in Myanmar and address the root causes of displacement so that refugees can return home voluntarily, safely and with dignity."