More than 500 people, mostly Rohingya, are feared missing after two boats reportedly capsized off Myanmar, the UN refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.
According to preliminary information, the boats left Myanmar’s Rakhine State in late June carrying passengers including some from Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
One vessel carrying around 250 people lost contact shortly after departure, while another with about 280 passengers is believed to have sunk off Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on 8 July.
The incidents have not been officially confirmed, but UNHCR and IOM warned of a potentially devastating loss of life. If verified, the tragedy would add to nearly 300 people reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal this year.
The agencies said worsening conflict in Myanmar and limited opportunities for Rohingya refugees are driving more people to take dangerous sea journeys, while calling for stronger search and rescue efforts and action against smuggling networks.
