More than 500 people are feared to have died after two boats carrying refugees reportedly capsized off the coast of Myanmar, according to a joint statement issued by the United Nations refugee and migration agencies on Thursday. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said the vessels were carrying mostly Rohingya passengers who were attempting dangerous sea journeys in search of safety and better opportunities outside the conflict-affected country.
According to preliminary information cited by the agencies, both boats departed from Myanmar’s Rakhine State in late June. The passengers were reported to be predominantly Rohingya, including some who had travelled from refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. While the incidents and the reported casualty figures have not yet been officially confirmed, the agencies said they were gravely concerned by what could represent a devastating loss of life.
The first vessel, carrying approximately 250 people, reportedly lost contact shortly after leaving Myanmar. A second boat carrying around 280 people is believed to have sunk off the coast of Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady region on July 8, according to the joint statement. The agencies said more than 500 people are feared dead as a result of the two incidents.
The UN agencies said the voyages took place outside the regular sailing season, when maritime conditions are generally considered more dangerous. They said the timing of the journeys increased the risks faced by those onboard as they attempted to cross hazardous waters in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
For years, members of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority have undertaken dangerous sea crossings on overcrowded wooden boats in an effort to escape violence in Myanmar and difficult living conditions in refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh. Many seek refuge or improved economic opportunities in countries including Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
The latest reported incidents come as maritime routes remain a common but highly dangerous means of escape for Rohingya refugees. According to the UN agencies, nearly 300 people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, have already been reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal this year.
The IOM and UNHCR said they are continuing to monitor the situation as further information becomes available. They stressed that the reported incidents and casualty figures remain subject to official confirmation but said the scale of the reported losses has raised serious humanitarian concerns.
