Over 500 feared dead as refugee boats sink off Myanmar coast

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said the vessels departed Myanmar’s Rakhine State in late June, carrying hundreds

GENEVA: More than 500 refugees are feared to have lost their lives after two overcrowded boats carrying mostly Rohingya passengers reportedly sank off the coast of Myanmar, according to the United Nations, marking one of the deadliest maritime tragedies involving refugees in recent years.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said the vessels departed Myanmar’s Rakhine State in late June, carrying hundreds of people fleeing violence and hardship. The passengers were believed to include Rohingya refugees as well as some individuals from refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh.

According to preliminary information, the first boat, carrying around 250 passengers, disappeared shortly after setting sail, while a second vessel with nearly 280 people on board is believed to have sunk near Myanmar’s Irrawaddy coast on July 8. Although the incidents have not yet been officially confirmed, UN agencies said they are deeply concerned about the potentially devastating loss of life.

The UN noted that both journeys took place outside the normal sailing season, when rough sea conditions significantly increase the risk of maritime disasters.

For years, members of Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority have undertaken dangerous sea voyages in overcrowded wooden boats in search of safety and better living conditions in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Many are driven by ongoing violence in Myanmar and difficult conditions in refugee camps in Bangladesh.

According to UN estimates, nearly 900 Rohingya refugees either died or went missing in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal last year, making the route one of the world’s most dangerous for refugees and migrants.

The Rohingya crisis began in 2017 when a military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine State forced more than 730,000 people to flee to Bangladesh. Myanmar has denied allegations of widespread abuses and continues to deny the Rohingya citizenship, describing them as illegal immigrants.

The humanitarian situation has further deteriorated since Myanmar’s 2021 military coup, which plunged the country into civil conflict. Fighting between government forces and the Arakan Army has intensified in Rakhine State, leaving Rohingya communities trapped amid ongoing violence.

The UN also reported that nearly 300 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals have been reported dead or missing in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal so far this year, underscoring the continuing dangers faced by those attempting perilous sea crossings in search of refuge.