The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is investigating reports that two boats carrying Rohingya refugees have capsized in the Bay of Bengal. The boats reportedly departed from Myanmar’s western Rakhine state in late June before sinking.
“We are deeply concerned by the potential loss of life and are working to verify further details,” the UNHCR said in a statement Tuesday. The agency has not released additional details regarding the number of individuals on board or the approximate sinking location.
The Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority from Myanmar, face severe restrictions and persecution. Approximately 1.2 million Rohingya remain in crowded refugee camps in Bangladesh, having fled waves of violence, including what the United States has declared a genocide in 2017. Many Rohingya still in Myanmar are confined to internment camps.
Recent years have seen an increasing number of Rohingya attempting the perilous sea journey to Malaysia due to deteriorating conditions in Bangladesh's refugee camps, which have experienced ration cuts from reduced foreign aid. Conflict between Myanmar's ruling military and an ethnic armed organization in Rakhine state has further exacerbated the situation.
Thousands of Rohingya, including children and pregnant women, are believed to have died or gone missing during these sea crossings. Maritime authorities have sometimes failed to act on distress reports, leaving the Rohingya at sea. The UNHCR stated that saving lives at sea is a humanitarian imperative and a duty under international maritime law, calling for increased search and rescue efforts from nations and the international community.
In 2025, over 6,500 Rohingya fled by boat, with nearly 900 reported dead or missing, marking the deadliest year on record for such journeys. So far this year, more than 5,400 Rohingya refugees have attempted the crossing, with 540 reported missing or dead.