Additional Context: This data was collected by the United Nations Refugee Agency, or UNHCR, and compares boat departures from Bangladesh and Myanmar in the first three months of 2026 with those of the previous year. UNHCR figures show a more than fivefold increase in departures from Bangladesh alone in that period. 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, is 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 have left 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