The United Nations has expressed concern that more than 500 people may have died following two suspected boat sinkings off the coast of Myanmar. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) raised the alarm in a joint statement issued on Thursday (July 16).
According to the statement, reports indicate that two boats carrying more than 500 passengers from Myanmar’s coast were involved in separate maritime incidents. While the circumstances of the accidents and the exact number of casualties have yet to be officially confirmed, the two UN agencies voiced deep concern over the potential scale of the tragedy.
Preliminary information suggests that the boats departed from Myanmar’s conflict-ridden Rakhine State in late June. Most of those on board were members of the country’s persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority, while some passengers are also believed to have departed from the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, in an attempt to reach other countries by sea.
The UN statement said one boat, carrying around 250 people, lost contact shortly after setting sail. Another vessel, with approximately 280 passengers on board, is believed to have sunk off Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.
The IOM and UNHCR noted that both voyages took place outside the usual maritime travel season, when sea conditions are significantly more dangerous. They added that recent heavy rains and flooding have further increased the risks of sea crossings.
The agencies warned that if the reports are confirmed, the number of people believed to have died or gone missing in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal since the beginning of the year will rise substantially. The victims are believed to include both Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals.
According to the UN, the protracted Rohingya crisis, ongoing conflict in Myanmar, and the lack of prospects for a safe future continue to force many people into undertaking perilous sea journeys.
AFP reported that every year, thousands of Rohingya attempt dangerous sea crossings in search of safety and better opportunities. Many of these journeys are orchestrated by human trafficking and migrant smuggling networks, which exploit the desperation and vulnerability of displaced people.
UNHCR data show that of the more than 6,500 Rohingya who attempted dangerous sea crossings in the northern Indian Ocean last year, nearly 900 were reported missing or died.
The two UN agencies said the latest incident underscores once again that the humanitarian crisis will persist unless a lasting solution to the Rohingya situation is achieved.
They called for intensified search-and-rescue operations, the provision of safe disembarkation and protection for survivors, and stronger action against human trafficking and migrant smuggling networks.
The IOM and UNHCR also commended Bangladesh for its longstanding generosity in hosting Rohingya refugees. At the same time, they stressed the need for sustained international support for both refugees and host communities, alongside meaningful efforts to address the root causes of displacement.
Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), AFP.