nder the Radar is a weekly special series bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world, one region at a time. This week in SE Asia and Oceania, humanitarian rights organizations are calling for global action after the largest Rohingya refugee tragedy this year. Other noteworthy under–the–radar stories from the region include the possible end of Australia’s algal bloom, the success of Malaysia’s “foreign fish hunter squad,” and Vietnam bans Telegram.
At least 427 Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar and Bangladesh drowned after two crises in May 2025. On 9 May, a boat containing 267 refugees sank, leaving only 66 survivors. Another ship of 247 refugees sank just one day later on 10 May, leaving only 21 survivors. In the wake of these twin tragedies, human rights organizations are now calling for the world to investigate the injustice the Rohingya are facing.
Rohingya are an ethnic group in Myanmar who are mainly Muslim. The majority of Rohingya in Myanmar live in the coastal Rakhine State, where they are forbidden to leave the area without government permission. Although there is documentation of Rohingya inhabiting Rakhine State, formerly known as Arakan State, as early as 1799, the Myanmar government does not officially recognize the Rohingya people as one of its ethnic groups. The Rohingya people have been denied Myanmar citizenship since 1982.
Myanmar has been in the midst of humanitarian crises since a 2021 coup, with the situation being most desperate in the underfunded and underdeveloped Rakhine State. Although the 2021 coup escalated the violence, the Rohingya people have suffered at the hands of the Myanmar military since 2017, according to Human Rights Watch—with atrocities including massacre, rape, and arson. Meanwhile, the Rohingya are kept in open–air detention camps, and the military is allegedly using these camps as illegal recruiting grounds among disaffected or desperate Rohingya men and boys.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar to refugee camps in Bangladesh. But even if refugees can make it to Bangladesh without being arrested, the Bangladesh government is neglecting the Rohingya refugee camps, where violent gangs run rampant.
The situation is life–or–death, hence why the refugees risked the journey by boat during monsoon season. These refugees are fleeing in desperation to Indonesia and Malaysia, although many who undertake the dangerous journey go missing or perish.The UN Refugee Agency reports that one–in–five Rohingya disappear or die on these journeys.
Humanitarian organizations are calling for the world to focus its attention on Myanmar and, specifically, the Rohingya refugees and Rakhine State. Notably, the UN Refugee Agency requires $383 million to support the Rohingya refugees, but has only met 30% of its funding target.
Here are some other under–the–radar stories from across SE Asia and Oceania:
- An algal bloom off the coast of Australia may be coming to an end as ocean temperatures are dropping.
- Malaysia’s “foreign fish hunter squad” has been working to combat invasive species in Malaysia’s rivers.
- Vietnam is banning the Telegram app, linking some users to alleged crimes ranging in severity from “reactionary activities” to drug trafficking.
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Hundreds of Rohingya refugees perish while fleeing crisis
A Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh. Image courtesy of EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid via Flickr. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
June 6, 2025
Diplomatic Courier’s Stephanie Gull brings you weekly under–the–radar stories from around the world. This week in SE Asia and Oceania: two fatal tragedies reignite calls for global action to support the Rohingya people.
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nder the Radar is a weekly special series bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world, one region at a time. This week in SE Asia and Oceania, humanitarian rights organizations are calling for global action after the largest Rohingya refugee tragedy this year. Other noteworthy under–the–radar stories from the region include the possible end of Australia’s algal bloom, the success of Malaysia’s “foreign fish hunter squad,” and Vietnam bans Telegram.
At least 427 Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar and Bangladesh drowned after two crises in May 2025. On 9 May, a boat containing 267 refugees sank, leaving only 66 survivors. Another ship of 247 refugees sank just one day later on 10 May, leaving only 21 survivors. In the wake of these twin tragedies, human rights organizations are now calling for the world to investigate the injustice the Rohingya are facing.
Rohingya are an ethnic group in Myanmar who are mainly Muslim. The majority of Rohingya in Myanmar live in the coastal Rakhine State, where they are forbidden to leave the area without government permission. Although there is documentation of Rohingya inhabiting Rakhine State, formerly known as Arakan State, as early as 1799, the Myanmar government does not officially recognize the Rohingya people as one of its ethnic groups. The Rohingya people have been denied Myanmar citizenship since 1982.
Myanmar has been in the midst of humanitarian crises since a 2021 coup, with the situation being most desperate in the underfunded and underdeveloped Rakhine State. Although the 2021 coup escalated the violence, the Rohingya people have suffered at the hands of the Myanmar military since 2017, according to Human Rights Watch—with atrocities including massacre, rape, and arson. Meanwhile, the Rohingya are kept in open–air detention camps, and the military is allegedly using these camps as illegal recruiting grounds among disaffected or desperate Rohingya men and boys.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar to refugee camps in Bangladesh. But even if refugees can make it to Bangladesh without being arrested, the Bangladesh government is neglecting the Rohingya refugee camps, where violent gangs run rampant.
The situation is life–or–death, hence why the refugees risked the journey by boat during monsoon season. These refugees are fleeing in desperation to Indonesia and Malaysia, although many who undertake the dangerous journey go missing or perish.The UN Refugee Agency reports that one–in–five Rohingya disappear or die on these journeys.
Humanitarian organizations are calling for the world to focus its attention on Myanmar and, specifically, the Rohingya refugees and Rakhine State. Notably, the UN Refugee Agency requires $383 million to support the Rohingya refugees, but has only met 30% of its funding target.
Here are some other under–the–radar stories from across SE Asia and Oceania:
- An algal bloom off the coast of Australia may be coming to an end as ocean temperatures are dropping.
- Malaysia’s “foreign fish hunter squad” has been working to combat invasive species in Malaysia’s rivers.
- Vietnam is banning the Telegram app, linking some users to alleged crimes ranging in severity from “reactionary activities” to drug trafficking.
