UNHCR Seeks $383M in 2025 to Aid Rohingyas, Host Nations

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has urgently appealed to the international community for $383.1 million in funding for 2025 to support Rohingya refugees and host communities across Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and displaced populations within Myanmar.

So far, only 30 percent of the required funds have been received.

UNHCR emphasized that until conditions in Myanmar’s Rakhine State allow for safe, voluntary, and dignified returns, continued international support is essential to provide life-saving aid and stabilize the lives of both refugees and their host populations.

During a recent meeting with UNHCR officials, Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary reiterated that repatriation remains the only sustainable solution to the crisis, while also highlighting the growing socio-economic and environmental pressures on host communities.

Deadliest Maritime Tragedy Involving Rohingya in 2025

The call for support comes amid reports of a devastating maritime disaster earlier this month, where an estimated 427 Rohingya refugees drowned in two separate boat accidents off the coast of Myanmar—the deadliest such incident so far this year.

Preliminary reports suggest that around 514 Rohingya were aboard the two vessels, many of whom had fled refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, or violence in Rakhine State.

The first boat, carrying 267 people, sank on May 9, leaving only 66 survivors. The second, with 247 passengers, capsized the following day, with just 21 survivors rescued. UNHCR is verifying the identities of those who survived.

In a related development, a third vessel with approximately 188 Rohingya was intercepted after departing Myanmar on May 14.

So far in 2025, nearly one in five Rohingya attempting to flee by sea has been reported dead or missing, underscoring the lethal risks of crossing the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea—now among the world’s deadliest migration routes.

Funding Cuts Exacerbate Desperation

UNHCR has expressed grave concern over global humanitarian funding cuts that are compounding the vulnerability of Rohingya communities and increasing their reliance on dangerous sea routes.

“The dire humanitarian situation, exacerbated by funding cuts, is having a devastating impact on the lives of Rohingya, with more and more resorting to dangerous journeys to seek safety, protection, and a dignified life for themselves and their families,” said Hai Kyung Jun, Director of UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific.

Jun called the latest tragedy a "chilling reminder" of the urgent need for increased protection in countries of first asylum, as well as regional cooperation to ensure safe migration and prevent future loss of life.

With the monsoon season now underway, bringing rough seas and treacherous weather, UNHCR warned that the risk to those fleeing by boat is higher than ever.

“Saving lives and rescuing those in distress at sea is a humanitarian imperative and a long-standing obligation under international maritime law,” the agency said, urging regional authorities to act decisively to prevent further tragedies.