Boat Carrying Rohingya Detained Near Sittwe; Children Released After Days in Custody

by Hafizur Rahman

Sittwe Sea Area, Arakan State | January 06, 2026

A boat carrying 233 Rohingya people from Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships was detained by the Myanmar Navy near the Sittwe sea area on December 31, 2025, according to local sources.

The boat was carrying men, women, and children who had left their villages amid growing fear, hardship, and movement restrictions. Families said many felt they had no safe option left but to attempt a dangerous sea journey in search of security and a future.

After several days in detention, 28 children aged between 5 and 18 were released on January 5, 2026, and later reunited with their families. Relatives described the reunions as emotional but incomplete.

“When my child returned, I felt relief for the first time in many days,” said one Rohingya father. “But my heart is still heavy because other members of our family are still detained.”

The remaining passengers are still being held by authorities and are reportedly facing trial. Family members said no clear information has been shared about the charges or legal process.

A Rohingya woman whose husband remains in custody said the uncertainty is unbearable. “We don’t know what will happen to them. Every day we wait for news, but there is only silence. They are civilians, not criminals. They were only trying to survive.”

Another Rohingya resident told Rohingya Khobor that life in their villages had become impossible. He said there was no freedom and no sense of safety, adding that while the sea journey was dangerous, staying behind felt even more dangerous.

Community members are calling for the immediate release of all detained civilians, particularly women and elderly people. They urged the authorities to respect basic human rights and act with compassion toward those fleeing fear and insecurity.

The incident has heightened anxiety among Rohingya communities, where dangerous sea crossings remain one of the few remaining paths for people trying to escape ongoing conflict, repression, and uncertainty in northern Rakhine State.