By Vibhu Mishra
25
March 2025
This represents a staggering 59 per
cent increase from the 1,584 deaths recorded in 2023,
highlighting the worsening dangers faced by people on the
move.
“No one should lose their life in
pursuit of safety or a better future,” said
Iori Kato, IOM Regional Director for
Asia and the Pacific.
“Every life lost on
migration routes in Asia, or anywhere else, is a stark
reminder of the urgent need for safe and regular migration
pathways – these are preventable
tragedies.”
Rohingya, Afghans most at
risk
The spike
in migrant deaths was primarily linked to two of the
region’s most vulnerable populations: the minority Muslim
Rohingya fleeing Myanmar and Afghans escaping conflict and
instability.
“The increase in deaths across Asia of
people fleeing conflict and persecution in the region is of
grave concern,” Mr. Kato said.
In 2024, at
least 1,517 Afghan migrants lost their lives while in
transit – up 39 per cent from 2023.
Deaths
among Rohingya migrants more than doubled, reaching 889
compared to 436 the previous year.
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On 5 August
2024 alone, over 150 people were reportedly killed by
artillery fire while attempting to cross the Naf River from
Myanmar to Bangladesh.
IOM also highlighted
that the risks facing migrants extended beyond
conflict-related violence. Many are vulnerable to perilous
conditions en route, including overcrowded and unsafe boats,
abuse by smugglers and extreme weather
conditions.
Crisis of missing migrants
Lack of
identification of migrants was also a major concern, with
over 1,000 of those who died in 2024 unidentified. Among the
documented deaths, 1,086 were men, 205 were women, and 217
children.
“A lack of official reporting of data on
missing migrants means we know our data do not fully capture
the true number of lives lost during migration in Asia,”
Mr. Kato said.
“And even within the records we have,
so few identifying details are known, meaning there
are immeasurable effects on families searching for lost
relatives,” he added.
Asia’s deadly
migration routes
Migration in Asia is complex, driven
by economic inequality, conflict and environmental factors,
worsened by climate change. However, limited legal pathways
have forced many to rely on irregular and highly dangerous
routes.
One of the deadliest corridors remains the
Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, where stateless
Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants embark on treacherous sea
journeys in search of refuge. Many pay smugglers
for passage, only to find themselves trapped on overcrowded
boats with insufficient food and water, facing violence from
crew members and the risk of being turned away at their
destination.
Meanwhile, overland migration routes
across South and Southeast Asia – such as those from
Nepal to India, or from Afghanistan and Pakistan
through Iran and Turkey – also pose serious
risks. Migrants frequently endure extreme
environmental conditions, exploitation by traffickers, and
border violence.
Sea crossings to Australia,
once a significant migration route, have sharply declined in
recent years due to strict border controls,
according to IOM.
While official data on boat
interceptions remains scarce, the closure of this route has
left many stranded in transit countries with little access
to healthcare, education or legal protection, increasing
their vulnerability to
exploitation.
