Key facts
- Rohingya footballer Siraz Ullah, 24, is feared dead after disappearing at sea with approximately 500 other refugees.
- The group set sail from Myanmar for Malaysia in late June, seeking to escape persecution and pursue better lives.
- Ullah's last known communication expressed fears for his life and the dangers of the journey.
- The UN believes two boats capsized off the Myanmar coast, potentially carrying the missing refugees.
- Humanitarian concerns are high due to decades of persecution against the Rohingya minority in Myanmar.
The family of 24-year-old Rohingya footballer Siraz Ullah fears he is among approximately 500 refugees who have vanished at sea after setting sail from Myanmar for Malaysia in late June. Ullah, who had hoped to pursue a professional football career, sent a voice message to his family expressing his desperation and the risks involved in the journey.
His last communication was on June 22, and since then, his boat is feared lost. The UN believes two separate boats, carrying 250 and 280 people respectively, may have capsized off the Myanmar coast, and Ullah was likely on one of them. His nephew, Mumtaz Ullah, described the family's fear and uncertainty.
Criminal networks have been exploiting the Rohingya's desire to escape persecution in Myanmar and Bangladesh, luring them with promises of a better life in Malaysia. These traffickers often subject refugees to abuse and extortion before cramming them onto unseaworthy vessels. A human rights researcher noted that some families report their relatives being kidnapped and held for ransom.
The Rohingya, a Muslim minority group, have faced decades of persecution in Myanmar, including being stripped of their citizenship in 1982. Many have fled to Bangladesh, where they live in refugee camps with limited access to work and education. Ullah himself had previously attempted to reach Malaysia in 2022 but was apprehended by Myanmar authorities and released after his family paid a significant ransom.
Conditions in Myanmar have worsened in the past two years, with increased fighting leading to further displacement of Rohingya. Despite the dangers, many young men like Ullah feel they have no other choice but to attempt the perilous sea crossing.