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The United Nations fears that over 500 people have died after two boats carrying Rohingya refugees capsized off the coast of Myanmar. The accidents occurred as they attempted to flee by sea in search of safe haven and a better life.
In a joint statement on Thursday (July 16), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) stated that preliminary information indicates both boats departed from Myanmar’s Rakhine State in late June. Most of the passengers were Rohingya, and some individuals had also traveled from refugee camps in Bangladesh.
According to UN data, approximately 250 people were on one boat and about 280 on the other. Contact with the first boat was lost shortly after its departure. The second boat is believed to have capsized near Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.
While the boat capsizes and the number of casualties have not yet been officially confirmed, UNHCR and IOM have expressed deep concern over the potential loss of life.
The agencies stated that undertaking sea journeys outside the regular sailing season significantly increases the risk of accidents due to adverse weather conditions and rough seas.
Long-persecuted Rohingya are choosing perilous sea routes in hopes of reaching Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, seeking escape from violence in Myanmar and the difficult lives in overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh.
According to UN data, approximately 900 Rohingya refugees died or went missing in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal last year. Consequently, this route is currently considered the world’s deadliest refugee sea passage.
Following the Myanmar military’s crackdown in 2017, at least 730,000 Rohingya sought refuge in Bangladesh. Their crisis has since deepened due to the 2021 military coup and subsequent civil war.
Meanwhile, UNHCR and IOM have reported that approximately 300 Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals have been reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal so far this year.
Source: Reuters