Rohingya risk lives at sea to flee Myanmar, Bangladesh

"The dire humanitarian situation in both Myanmar and Bangladesh, exacerbated by funding cuts, is having a devastating impact on the lives of Rohingya people. More and more are resorting to dangerous journeys to seek safety, protection and a dignified life for themselves and their families."

"He said their boat sank close to Langkawi. He said he was in the same boat with her and that he and a few others were rescued by another boat and taken away, but everyone else died. Her 10-year-old daughter was among those who drowned."

"That grim figure, recorded by the UN refugee agency UNHCR, seems to be the highest death toll in well over a decade. In 2013, the UN estimated 890 Rohingya died or went missing while attempting the same journey."

Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar camps face a humanitarian crisis marked by scarce jobs, dwindling food rations, and reduced international funding. These dire conditions push families toward dangerous sea journeys seeking better lives, primarily targeting Malaysia. In 2025, 892 Rohingya died or went missing attempting these crossings, matching 2013 levels and representing the highest toll in over a decade. The camps, housing over 1 million people who fled Myanmar's 2017 violence against the Muslim minority, are increasingly controlled by criminal gangs. UNHCR attributes the surge in deaths to worsening humanitarian situations in both Myanmar and Bangladesh, combined with inadequate international support and protection mechanisms.

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