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More than 500 people are feared dead after two boats carrying mostly Rohingya refugees reportedly capsized off Myanmar’s coast, the United Nations has said.
The victims are believed to include Rohingya fleeing conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, with some passengers reportedly departing from refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
In a joint statement on Thursday, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said they were deeply concerned over the possible loss of two vessels carrying more than 500 people in recent days.
According to preliminary information, the boats left conflict-hit Rakhine State in late June. One vessel carrying around 250 people lost contact shortly after departure, while another carrying about 280 passengers is believed to have sunk off Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.
The incidents and the exact death toll have not yet been officially confirmed.
However, the UN agencies warned that if verified, the tragedies would significantly increase this year’s death toll on the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal, where nearly 300 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals have already been reported dead or missing.
UNHCR data shows that of more than 6,500 Rohingya who attempted dangerous sea crossings in the northern Indian Ocean last year, nearly 900 went missing or died.
The agencies said the latest incidents underscore the devastating consequences of prolonged conflict, displacement, and the lack of durable solutions for the Rohingya.
They added that escalating violence in Myanmar, worsening humanitarian conditions, and shrinking aid and opportunities in Bangladesh’s refugee camps are driving more people to undertake perilous sea journeys, while human trafficking and smuggling networks continue to exploit their desperation.