Key facts
- Two boats carrying over 500 people are feared to have capsized off Myanmar since late June.
- The passengers are believed to be Rohingya refugees, many from camps in Bangladesh.
- One boat carrying approximately 250 people lost contact shortly after departure.
- A second boat carrying approximately 280 people is believed to have sunk on July 8.
- UN agencies IOM and UNHCR are investigating the incidents and expressed grave concern over the potential loss of life.
The United Nations has stated that more than 500 people are feared dead following reports of two large shipwrecks off the coast of Myanmar since late June. The UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) and its refugee agency UNHCR expressed alarm, noting that preliminary information suggests the vessels departed from Myanmar’s Rakhine state in late June. Many passengers are believed to be Rohingya refugees, some of whom may have traveled from the large camps in Bangladesh's Cox’s Bazar. These refugees often undertake perilous sea journeys in search of better living conditions. One boat, reportedly carrying about 250 people, lost contact shortly after departure, while a second boat with approximately 280 people is believed to have sunk off Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8. While the incidents and casualty figures require official confirmation, the UN agencies are gravely concerned about the potential loss of life. They highlighted that the journeys occurred during a hazardous season with adverse maritime conditions exacerbated by recent torrential rain and flooding. These reported incidents add to nearly 300 people already reported missing or dead in the region this year and underscore the ongoing impact of conflict and displacement on Rohingya communities. The agencies called for enhanced search and rescue efforts and urged action against smuggling and trafficking networks, while also acknowledging Bangladesh's generosity in hosting refugees and calling for sustained international support.