Dire conditions in Myanmar and Bangladesh are forcing more Rohingya refugees to undertake perilous sea journeys in search of safety, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported Friday.
One such attempt this month ended in tragedy, with two boats sinking and an estimated 427 people feared dead — the deadliest Rohingya sea disaster of the year so far.
The boats, which departed from Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh and Myanmar’s Rakhine State on May 9 and 10, were carrying around 514 refugees. Only 87 survivors were found, according to UNHCR.
UNHCR warned that the worsening situation, compounded by significant aid funding cuts, is pushing Rohingya refugees to take increasingly dangerous risks. Funding reductions from major donors — particularly the U.S. under President Donald Trump and other Western nations prioritizing military budgets due to fears of Russia and China — have seriously impacted humanitarian efforts.
“The dire humanitarian situation, worsened by funding shortfalls, is forcing more Rohingya to risk their lives at sea to seek safety and dignity,” said Hai Kyung Jun, Director of UNHCR’s Asia-Pacific Bureau.
She emphasized that better protection in first-asylum countries, greater responsibility sharing, and coordinated international efforts along migration routes are crucial to preventing further loss of life.
UNHCR is currently appealing for $383.1 million to support Rohingya refugees in 2025, but only 30% of that goal has been funded. In March, the agency froze over $300 million in planned programs due to the financial shortfall.
