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Rohingya sea crossings hit record death toll in 2025, UNHCR says

Nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal in 2025, making it the deadliest year on record for the route, the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday. More than one in seven of the estimated 6,500 Rohingya refugees who attempted the sea crossing last year were reported missing or dead, the highest mortality rate worldwide for refugee and migrant sea journeys, UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch told reporters in Geneva. The dangerous sea crossings have continued into 2026, with more than 2,800 Rohingya embarking on such journeys up until April 13 this year, Baloch said. "This sad and tragic trend continues, this sense of desperation among the Rohingya population," he said. Read: UN looks to boost food security for Rohingya in Bangladesh Deadly maritime journeys have become a recurring feature of a long-running humanitarian crisis resulting from conflict in Myanmar, as members of the Rohingya Muslim minority continue to ris...
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Iran slams ‘one-sided’ UN draft, labels US sanctions ‘economic terrorism’

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeed Iravani criticised the draft resolution put forth by Bahrain in close coordination with the Gulf Cooperation Council at a UN General Assembly meeting on April 16 to discuss the vetoing of said draft. The resolution was tabled at the UN Security Council initially on April 7 and was vetoed by China and Russia, which had put forward an alternative, balanced draft resolution to facilitate a negotiated solution. As per Iran's Tasnim News report, Iravani argued that it ignored the root cause of the crisis: the “illegal and savage” war imposed by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, assassinating the former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He said in his statement, "During the Council meeting, my delegation made clear that the text was one-sided and ignored the root cause of the crisis: the illegal and savage war of aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran on 28 February 2026." "Its adoption would have set a dangerous precedent—eroding the sovereign rights of coastal States, undermining the UN Charter, and increasing the risk of escalation," the UN ambassador said. Also Read: Next round of US-Iran talks 'maybe, probably over the weekend', very close to deal: Trump Iran has presented the following criticism of the vetoed draft: Firstly, Iran has long upheld maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while taking lawful measures to ensure safe passage and prevent "the exploitation of this waterway for hostile or military purposes by aggressors and their affiliates." Secondly, it condemned the US-announced maritime blockade as a violation of its sovereignty and international law, warning Washington would bear responsibility for the consequences. Iravani said, "This unlawful action is a flagrant breach of the prohibition on the threat or use of force enshrined in Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and constitutes a clear act of aggression under international law." He continued, "By seeking to obstruct maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports, the United States unlawfully interferes with the exercise of the sovereign rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran and infringes upon the rights of third States and lawful maritime commerce under international law." Thirdly, Tehran emphasised US and Israel's war crimes 'violating international law' during weeks of continuous attacks. This included strikes on civilian infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, cultural sites and universities, and using Gulf-based facilities to support these attacks, which it has reported to the UN. Read More: Pakistan sets the stage for next round of talks Iran lauded diplomatic efforts, particularly by Pakistan and regional and global powers, to end the war, while expressing cautious optimism about talks despite deep mistrust of Washington. The ambassador said, "Iran welcomes and supports any diplomatic effort and credible initiative capable of bringing about a sustainable end to this unlawful and unwarranted war, including all genuine efforts through Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as efforts by China and Russia." Lastly, Iran criticised the Security Council's Resolution 2817, which strongly condemned Iran for "egregious" missile and drone attacks against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan. Iravani said it "disregards the unlawful war of aggression and armed attacks by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran and, in doing so, denies Iran’s inherent right of self-defence exercised in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter." Also Read: China steps up Iran diplomacy while seeking smooth summit with Trump Iran seeks US accountability for the assassination of its leaders, amongst recognition of its rights. The US continues its tirade for shutting Iran's nuclear programme, which, according to Iranian authorities, is peaceful. Lifting economic sanctions Iran's Spokesperson for Foreign Ministry Eshmaeil Baqaei accused the US on X of inflicting suffering on civilians with “smug self-righteousness,” calling its sanctions “economic terrorism” and “state-sponsored extortion” amounting to crimes against humanity. It is utterly abominable how policies that deliberately inflict pain and suffering on innocent people are presented with smug self-righteousness. This only reveals an inhumane mindset behind them. These are nothing short of economic terrorism and state-sponsored extortion —… pic.twitter.com/nmYqJ1HLhD — Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) April 16, 2026 He cited an AP report quoting Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as describing intensified pressure on Iran as the “financial equivalent” of a bombing campaign. A Pakistani security source told Reuters that Washington was offering to lift sanctions and unfreeze billions of dollars' worth of Iranian assets to secure a deal. However, the source added that Iran would open the strait only if a permanent ceasefire is reached and there are United Nations guarantees that the US and Israel will not attack again in the future.

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