Additional Context: This quote is attributed to Golam Mostofa, Cox’s Bazar area director for Save the Children, commenting on an uptick of Rohingya boat departures following aid cuts. Between the first quarters of 2025 and 2026, the United Nations Refugee Agency, or UNHCR, has shown an overall increase of 85% in boat departures for Rohingya refugees. From Bangadesh alone, the increase has been more than fivefold. Of those departing, 25% are children. Rohingya have been travelling across the Andaman Sea towards Malaysia regularly since 2006, but these journeys are extraordinarily dangerous, with one in five not reaching its destination, according to the Lowy Center.

According to Save the Children, ration cuts under the World Food Programme's, or WFP, new targeting and prioritization system, a result of funding cuts, are a major driver of refugees' decision to attempt these dangerous sea journeys. Other factors also contribute, such as the lack of access to formal education and employment opportunities in Bangladesh, which leave around one million refugees in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, almost entirely dependent on aid.

Devex Researcher Note: Between 2024 and 2025, U.S. contributions to the WFP more than halved, from $4.45 billion to $2.06 billion. As of April 2026, the U.S. has pledged just over $538 million. The decrease in U.S. contributions thus accounts for roughly half of the total cut to WFP funds, with other donors also reducing their contributions.

Source: Save the Children