Rohingya boat escapes surge 90% as aid cuts deepen crisis
The consequences have already been severe. The UNHCR reported that nearly 900 Rohingya were missing or dead in maritime routes across the region in 2023
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — The number of Rohingya refugees attempting dangerous sea journeys from Bangladesh and Myanmar has surged sharply this year, underscoring a deepening humanitarian crisis driven by aid cuts and worsening conditions inside refugee camps.
According to new data cited by Save the Children, departures by boat have risen by around 90% compared to the same period last year, reflecting growing desperation among displaced communities.
The figures, based on United Nations estimates, show that 2,907 people left by sea from Myanmar and Bangladesh by the end of March, nearly double the 1,517 recorded during the same period in 2025. Many of these journeys take place on overcrowded and unsafe vessels, often facilitated by human trafficking networks operating across the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.
More than one million Rohingya refugees remain in camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, after fleeing a military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017. With limited access to education, employment, or prospects for repatriation, many families are increasingly turning to risky migration routes.
Members of the Rohingya refugee community say the surge is being driven by a sense of hopelessness, particularly among younger generations who see little chance of rebuilding their lives in the camps.
Humanitarian agencies warn that deteriorating living conditions are accelerating this trend. The World Food Programme recently reduced food assistance for large segments of the refugee population due to funding shortages, affecting hundreds of thousands of children.
Aid groups say the cuts have intensified food insecurity, leaving families with fewer options and pushing them toward life-threatening journeys at sea.
The consequences have already been severe. The UNHCR reported that nearly 900 Rohingya were missing or dead in maritime routes across the region in 2025, making it the deadliest year on record. Fatalities have continued into 2026, with recent boat capsizes adding to the toll.
One such incident earlier this month left more than 250 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi migrants missing after a vessel sank in the Andaman Sea — a common route used by those attempting to reach Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia.
Aid agencies say that without urgent funding and improved living conditions, the number of refugees risking these journeys is likely to rise further, turning an already dire displacement crisis into an escalating regional emergency.
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