U.N. Refugee Agency Investigates Reports of Two Boats Carrying Rohingya Capsizing

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said Tuesday it is investigating reports that two boats carrying Rohingya refugees capsized in the Bay of Bengal after departing Myanmar's western Rakhine state in late June. The agency stated it is concerned about potential loss of life and is working to verify further details.

It declined to release information on the number of people believed to be aboard or the approximate locations where the boats sank.

1.2 million stateless Rohingya remain in overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh after fleeing violence by Myanmar's security forces. The refugees have no safe route to return to Myanmar, where the military that conducted operations against Rohingya in 2017 remains in control.

Rohingya still living in Myanmar face severe movement restrictions and many are held in internment camps. Cuts to foreign aid have reduced rations in Bangladesh camps, while fighting between Myanmar's military and an ethnic armed group continues in Rakhine state.

The unrest has prompted more Rohingya to attempt dangerous boat journeys toward Malaysia. Local maritime authorities have often ignored distress reports or abandoned boats at sea, the agency said. More than 6,500 Rohingya fled by boat and nearly 900 were reported dead or missing in 2025, the deadliest year recorded for such crossings.

So far this year, more than 5,400 have departed by boat, with 540 reported missing or dead. The agency called on nations to increase search-and-rescue operations and urged regional authorities and the international community to take further action.