Two boats carrying more than 500 Rohingya refugees have sunk off Myanmar’s coast, the UN said on July 16, sparking fears of a massive loss of life. The vessels left Rakhine State in late June, with the first boat of about 250 people losing contact shortly after departure. A second boat carrying around 280 people is believed to have sunk off the Irrawaddy coast on July 8.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said in a joint statement that more than 500 people were feared dead, though the incidents have not yet been officially confirmed. The agencies expressed deep concern over the possible large loss of life and urged stronger international cooperation to protect refugees.
For years, Rohingya Muslims have risked dangerous sea journeys to flee persecution in Myanmar and poor conditions in Bangladesh camps. Last year, nearly 900 Rohingya died or went missing in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. These latest sinkings occurred outside the usual sailing season, when sea conditions are more hazardous.
The Rohingya crisis escalated in 2017 when Myanmar’s military launched a crackdown, forcing over 730,000 to flee to Bangladesh. The situation has worsened since the 2021 coup, with Rohingya caught between government forces and rebel groups. The UN called for better search and rescue efforts and action against human trafficking networks.
Article and image source: bangladeshsun.com
