The United Nations has voiced grave concern after reports that more than 500 people may have died in two suspected shipwrecks off Myanmar since late June.
In a joint statement Thursday, the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) and refugee agency UNHCR said they were alarmed by reports “that two boats carrying more than 500 people may have capsized off the coast of Myanmar in recent days.”
Preliminary information suggests the vessels departed from Rakhine state in late June, carrying mainly members of Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority, reports The Guardian.
Some passengers were believed to have travelled from the overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar, where more than a million Rohingya live in dire conditions.
According to the statement, one boat carrying about 250 people lost contact shortly after departure. A second vessel, with around 280 people onboard, is believed to have sunk off Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on 8 July.
“While the incidents and casualty figures have yet to be officially confirmed, UNHCR and IOM are gravely concerned by the potentially devastating loss of life,” the agencies said.
The UN noted that the journeys took place outside the regular sailing season, when seas are more dangerous. Recent torrential rain and flooding across the region have further heightened risks.
If confirmed, the tragedies would add to nearly 300 people already reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal this year, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals.
UNHCR data show nearly 900 Rohingya were reported missing or dead at sea in 2023, out of more than 6,500 who attempted such perilous crossings in the northern Indian Ocean.
The agencies said the latest reports underscore the devastating impact of protracted conflict and displacement, as well as the lack of sustainable solutions for Rohingya communities.
Escalating conflict in Myanmar and worsening conditions in Bangladesh’s refugee camps are driving more people to risk dangerous journeys in search of safety.
They also warned of the persistent dangers posed by smuggling and trafficking networks, which exploit the desperation of those fleeing.
IOM and UNHCR called for enhanced search and rescue operations, access to asylum and protection, and stronger action against trafficking networks.
They praised Bangladesh for its “remarkable generosity” in hosting Rohingya refugees but stressed the need for sustained international support for both refugees and host communities, along with greater efforts to address the root causes of displacement.
