Totally Fine Foundation · Issue 005 · Routes / Displacement / Protection

South and South-East Asia Route

Last reviewed · Totally Fine Foundation editorial desk · 10 min

UNHCR maps the South and South-East Asia route as overlapping corridors, not one flow. Forced displacement from Myanmar is the principal protection dimension: UNHCR data lists 4,058,100 IDPs inside Myanmar, last updated 2026-10-19; 1.2 million Rohingya in Bangladesh as of 2026-06-30, with two counts 29 apart; 1,355,000 stateless Rohingya refugees and asylum-seekers across host countries as of 2026-06-30, per UNHCR data; UNHCR's Routes Monitor recorded 650 dead or missing at sea in June 2026; and a 2025 Rohingya response plan reported to be 46 per cent funded as of 2025-12-31, according to UN reporting.

Metrics

The Overlapping Corridors of South and South-East Asia

Route definition: overlapping corridors and forced displacement from Myanmar

UNHCR's Route-Based Approach report, published 2026-10-29, describes the South and South-East Asia (SSEA) route as several overlapping forced displacement and migration corridors rather than a single homogeneous movement. It identifies forced displacement from Myanmar as the route's principal international-protection dimension.

Conflict, persecution, statelessness and serious human rights violations drive movements from Myanmar towards Bangladesh, India and Thailand. Rohingya refugees also make onward sea and land movements towards Malaysia and Indonesia.

Well-established labour-migration corridors run alongside the refugee movements, notably from Cambodia and Lao PDR to Thailand and from Indonesia to Malaysia. Migrants on these corridors face abusive recruitment, trafficking and exploitation.

Sources: data.unhcr.org — UNHCR Route-Based Approach: South and South-East Asia (SSEA) route; data.unhcr.org — UNHCR route-based snapshot: refugees from Myanmar as of end-April 2026; themimu.info — Intraregional Mixed Migration Routes Map, January–April 2026; unodc.org — UNODC Observatory on Smuggling of Migrants: South-East Asia Key Findings, March 2024; ilo.org — ILO PROTECT Indonesia: Decent Work and Reduced Vulnerability in Southeast Asian Labour Migration; unodc.org — UNODC Study: Trafficking in Persons from Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar to Thailand; asiapacific.iom.int — IOM Country Profile: Labour Migration Pathways to Malaysia

Onward Rohingya movements to Malaysia and Indonesia

Rohingya refugees also make onward sea and land movements towards Malaysia and Indonesia, according to UNHCR.

Reuters reported on 2026-04-21 that an overcrowded boat carrying Rohingya refugees capsized in the Andaman Sea earlier that month, leaving 250 missing and feared dead.

Sources: data.unhcr.org — UNHCR route-based snapshot: refugees from Myanmar as of end-April 2026; reuters.com — Reuters: Rohingya refugees risk death at sea as food and prospects deteriorate; indonesia.iom.int — IOM Indonesia Missing Migrants Project: Andaman Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indonesia Region, April–June 2026; hrw.org — Human Rights Watch Statement on Malaysia's Forced Return of Myanmar Refugees

Parallel labour-migration corridors and risks

The route also carries established labour-migration corridors, notably from Cambodia and Lao PDR to Thailand and from Indonesia to Malaysia.

Migrants on these corridors face abusive recruitment, trafficking and exploitation, according to research by ILO and UNODC.

Sources: unodc.org — UNODC Observatory on Smuggling of Migrants: South-East Asia Key Findings, March 2024; ilo.org — ILO PROTECT Indonesia: Decent Work and Reduced Vulnerability in Southeast Asian Labour Migration; unodc.org — UNODC Study: Trafficking in Persons from Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar to Thailand; asiapacific.iom.int — IOM Country Profile: Labour Migration Pathways to Malaysia; data.unhcr.org — UNHCR Route-Based Approach: South and South-East Asia (SSEA) route

Counting the displaced and the sea crossings

About 1.2 million Rohingya refugees live in Bangladesh, in the Cox's Bazar camps and on Bhasan Char, as of 2026-06-30. UNHCR data gives 1,200,200 and the IFRC and the Protection Sector give 1,200,171.

Close to 80 per cent of the Rohingya refugee population in Bangladesh are women and children. The IFRC gives 78 per cent based on June 2026 dashboard data, and the UN Secretary-General's report dated 2026-08-03 gives almost 80 per cent.

UNHCR's data portal lists 4,058,100 internally displaced people in Myanmar, last updated 2026-10-19, with the UN in Myanmar as source.

UNHCR data counts 1,355,000 stateless Rohingya refugees and asylum-seekers from Myanmar across host countries as of 2026-06-30. This includes 129,400 in Malaysia and 22,400 in India.

UNHCR's Routes Monitor recorded 650 dead or missing persons at sea during June 2026. The figure was largely driven by 540 people feared dead after two boats carrying refugees from Myanmar capsized off the Myanmar coast.

A separate April 2026 capsizing in the Andaman Sea left 250 missing and feared dead, Reuters reported on 2026-04-21.

Sources: data.unhcr.org — UNHCR Route-Based Approach: South and South-East Asia (SSEA) route; data.unhcr.org — UNHCR route-based snapshot: refugees from Myanmar as of end-April 2026; indonesia.iom.int — IOM Indonesia Missing Migrants Project: Andaman Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indonesia Region, April–June 2026; reuters.com — Reuters: Rohingya refugees risk death at sea as food and prospects deteriorate; hrw.org — Human Rights Watch Statement on Malaysia's Forced Return of Myanmar Refugees

Response under strain: a 46 per cent funded 2025 plan and cuts to food and services

According to UN reporting, the 2025 Rohingya Joint Response Plan had received 46 per cent of required funding as of 2025-12-31, with reported cuts to food assistance and essential services.

Sources: reuters.com — Reuters: Rohingya refugees risk death at sea as food and prospects deteriorate; data.unhcr.org — UNHCR route-based snapshot: refugees from Myanmar as of end-April 2026

Registration and return: Malaysia's DPP and the 5,000

Malaysia's Refugee Registration Document (DPP) programme began on 2026-01-01 as a government-led registration system intended to replace UNHCR-run registration. According to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, it does not guarantee refugees permanent residence.

According to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Myanmar authorities had agreed to take back 5,000 ethnic Rohingya, as stated on 2026-07-29.

Sources: bernama.com — Malaysia's DPP Programme Does Not Guarantee Permanent Stay, Says Home Minister; hrw.org — Human Rights Watch Statement on Malaysia's Forced Return of Myanmar Refugees

Claims and evidence

The South and South-East Asia route consists of several overlapping forced displacement and migration corridors rather than a single homogeneous movement, with forced displacement from Myanmar as the principal international-protection dimension.

Claimant: UNHCR Route-Based Approach report

Evidence status: confirmed

Counterclaim: No counterclaim documented in the sources reviewed.

Independent assessment: No independent assessment documented in the sources reviewed.

Sources: data.unhcr.org — UNHCR Route-Based Approach: South and South-East Asia (SSEA) route

Malaysia's Refugee Registration Document programme does not guarantee refugees permanent residence.

Claimant: Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail

Evidence status: confirmed

Counterclaim: No counterclaim documented in the sources reviewed.

Independent assessment: No independent assessment documented in the sources reviewed.

Sources: bernama.com — Malaysia's DPP Programme Does Not Guarantee Permanent Stay, Says Home Minister

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Myanmar authorities had agreed to take back 5,000 ethnic Rohingya.

Claimant: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

Evidence status: likely

Counterclaim: No counterclaim documented in the sources reviewed.

Independent assessment: No independent assessment documented in the sources reviewed.

Sources: hrw.org — Human Rights Watch Statement on Malaysia's Forced Return of Myanmar Refugees

About 1.2 million Rohingya refugees live in Bangladesh, in Cox's Bazar camps and on Bhasan Char, as of 2026-06-30.

Claimant: UNHCR, IFRC and Protection Sector

Evidence status: confirmed

Counterclaim: No counterclaim documented in the sources reviewed.

Independent assessment: No independent assessment documented in the sources reviewed.

Sources: data.unhcr.org — UNHCR Route-Based Approach: South and South-East Asia (SSEA) route

UNHCR's Routes Monitor recorded 650 dead or missing persons at sea during June 2026, largely driven by 540 people feared dead after two boats carrying refugees from Myanmar capsized off the Myanmar coast.

Claimant: UNHCR Routes Monitor

Evidence status: likely

Counterclaim: No counterclaim documented in the sources reviewed.

Independent assessment: No independent assessment documented in the sources reviewed.

Sources: data.unhcr.org — UNHCR Route-Based Approach: South and South-East Asia (SSEA) route; indonesia.iom.int — IOM Indonesia Missing Migrants Project: Andaman Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indonesia Region, April–June 2026

Migrants on labour corridors from Cambodia and Lao PDR to Thailand and from Indonesia to Malaysia face abusive recruitment, trafficking and exploitation.

Claimant: ILO and UNODC reports

Evidence status: confirmed

Counterclaim: No counterclaim documented in the sources reviewed.

Independent assessment: No independent assessment documented in the sources reviewed.

Sources: ilo.org — ILO PROTECT Indonesia: Decent Work and Reduced Vulnerability in Southeast Asian Labour Migration; unodc.org — UNODC Study: Trafficking in Persons from Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar to Thailand; asiapacific.iom.int — IOM Country Profile: Labour Migration Pathways to Malaysia

Timeline

  1. — Malaysia launches Refugee Registration Document (DPP) programme

    Malaysia's government-led DPP registration system for refugees began on 1 January 2026 as a government-led registration system intended to replace UNHCR-run registration. Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said it does not guarantee permanent residence for refugees.

    Sources: bernama.com — Malaysia's DPP Programme Does Not Guarantee Permanent Stay, Says Home Minister; hrw.org — Human Rights Watch Statement on Malaysia's Forced Return of Myanmar Refugees

  2. — Rohingya boat capsizes in Andaman Sea with 250 missing

    Reuters reported on 21 April 2026 that an overcrowded boat carrying Rohingya refugees capsized in the Andaman Sea earlier that month, leaving 250 people missing and feared dead. The exact date in April 2026 is not given.

    Sources: reuters.com — Reuters: Rohingya refugees risk death at sea as food and prospects deteriorate

  3. — 1.2 million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh as of June 2026

    About 1.2 million Rohingya refugees live in Bangladesh in Cox's Bazar camps and on Bhasan Char, according to UNHCR data as of 30 June 2026. UNHCR gives 1,200,200; IFRC and the Protection Sector give 1,200,171.

    Sources: data.unhcr.org — UNHCR Route-Based Approach: South and South-East Asia (SSEA) route

  4. — 1.36 million stateless Rohingya refugees and asylum-seekers across host countries

    UNHCR data as of 30 June 2026 counts 1,355,000 stateless Rohingya refugees and asylum-seekers from Myanmar across host countries, including 129,400 in Malaysia and 22,400 in India.

    Sources: data.unhcr.org — UNHCR Route-Based Approach: South and South-East Asia (SSEA) route

  5. — 650 dead or missing at sea during June 2026 on South and South-East Asia route

    UNHCR's Routes Monitor recorded 650 dead or missing persons at sea during June 2026, largely driven by 540 people feared dead after two boats carrying refugees from Myanmar capsized off the Myanmar coast.

    Sources: data.unhcr.org — UNHCR Route-Based Approach: South and South-East Asia (SSEA) route; indonesia.iom.int — IOM Indonesia Missing Migrants Project: Andaman Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indonesia Region, April–June 2026

  6. — Malaysian PM says Myanmar agreed to take back 5,000 Rohingya

    Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated on 29 July 2026 that Myanmar authorities had agreed to take back 5,000 ethnic Rohingya, according to Human Rights Watch.

    Sources: hrw.org — Human Rights Watch Statement on Malaysia's Forced Return of Myanmar Refugees

Open questions

  • Why do UNHCR and IFRC/Protection Sector counts of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh differ by 29 as of 30 June 2026?
  • How many of the 650 people dead or missing at sea in June 2026 were not among the 540 feared dead from the two boats that capsized off Myanmar?
  • Is the share of women and children among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh closer to 78 per cent (IFRC, June 2026) or almost 80 per cent (UN Secretary-General, 3 August 2026)?
  • How deep were the reported food and service cuts under the 2025 plan, reportedly 46 per cent funded as of 31 December 2025?
  • How many of the 5,000 ethnic Rohingya that Myanmar authorities agreed to take back, according to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on 29 July 2026, have actually returned?
  • How many of the 129,400 Rohingya counted by UNHCR in Malaysia have registered under the DPP since it began on 1 January 2026?

Source registry

  1. data.unhcr.org — UNHCR Route-Based Approach: South and South-East Asia (SSEA) route; primary_document; date not supplied
  2. data.unhcr.org — UNHCR route-based snapshot: refugees from Myanmar as of end-April 2026; primary_document; date not supplied
  3. ohchr.org — Special Rapporteur report A/80/490 on human rights in Myanmar; human_rights; date not supplied
  4. themimu.info — Myanmar situation update: 5.3 million forcibly displaced as of end-March 2026; humanitarian; date not supplied
  5. unhcr.org — UNHCR Indonesia: Rohingya Boat Arrivals, 31 December 2025; primary_document; date not supplied
  6. reuters.com — Reuters: Rohingya refugees risk death at sea as food and prospects deteriorate; news; date not supplied
  7. indonesia.iom.int — IOM Indonesia Missing Migrants Project: Andaman Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indonesia Region, April–June 2026; humanitarian; date not supplied
  8. unodc.org — UNODC Observatory on Smuggling of Migrants: South-East Asia Key Findings, March 2024; research; date not supplied
  9. ilo.org — ILO PROTECT Indonesia: Decent Work and Reduced Vulnerability in Southeast Asian Labour Migration; research; date not supplied
  10. unodc.org — UNODC Study: Trafficking in Persons from Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar to Thailand; research; date not supplied
  11. asiapacific.iom.int — IOM Country Profile: Labour Migration Pathways to Malaysia; research; date not supplied
  12. antaranews.com — BP3MI: 66 of 166 Migrant Workers Deported from Malaysia Indicated as Trafficking Victims; news; date not supplied
  13. hrw.org — Human Rights Watch Statement on Malaysia's Forced Return of Myanmar Refugees; human_rights; date not supplied
  14. gov.uk — UK Statement at UN Human Rights Council on Myanmar, 7 September 2026; official_position; date not supplied
  15. bernama.com — Malaysia's DPP Programme Does Not Guarantee Permanent Stay, Says Home Minister; official_position; date not supplied
  16. themimu.info — Intraregional Mixed Migration Routes Map, January–April 2026; primary_document; date not supplied

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