The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is investigating reports that two boats carrying Rohingya refugees from Myanmar may have sunk while sailing in the Bay of Bengal, and has expressed deep concern over the potential loss of numerous lives.
In a recent statement, the UNHCR said that the two boats reportedly departed from Myanmar’s western Rakhine State at the end of June this year and subsequently ran into trouble at sea.
The statement read: “We are deeply worried about the potential loss of life and are actively verifying further details.”
However, the UNHCR has not yet released further information such as the number of people on board or the exact locations of the sinkings.
Currently, around 1.2 million stateless, predominantly Muslim Rohingya are stranded in overcrowded and harsh refugee camps in Bangladesh, having fled years of violent repression by Myanmar’s military.
Due to the ongoing military rule in Myanmar, Rohingya people are still unable to return home safely. Those who remain in Myanmar face severe movement restrictions, with many confined to camp-like internment facilities.
In recent years, cuts in refugee aid by the United States and other countries have led to reduced food rations in the Bangladeshi camps. Meanwhile, ongoing conflict between Myanmar’s military regime and Rakhine ethnic armed groups has further deteriorated the situation on the ground.
Amidst war and a lack of livelihood options, increasing numbers of Rohingya are risking dangerous journeys in rickety wooden boats, attempting to reach Malaysia by crossing the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. In past years, thousands of refugees have died or gone missing along the way, including infants, children, and pregnant women.
International human rights organizations have repeatedly criticized the failure of some coastal countries’ authorities to actively engage in rescue operations, and even ignoring distressed boats at sea.
The UNHCR emphasizes that rescuing those in distress at sea is not only a humanitarian responsibility, but also a longstanding obligation under international maritime law, and calls on regional countries to strengthen maritime rescue operations. At the same time, the agency urges the international community to take further measures to protect Rohingya refugees.
Data show that in 2025, more than 6,500 Rohingya attempted to escape by boat, with nearly 900 deaths or missing persons, marking the deadliest year for Rohingya sea journeys and one of the highest fatality rates among major global refugee and migrant sea routes.
So far this year, over 5,400 Rohingya have fled by boat, with about 540 confirmed dead or missing.