Two boats sink off Myanmar coast, over 500 refugees feared drowned
NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar: Two boats carrying more than 500 people may have sunk off Myanmar’s coast in recent days, UN agencies said on July 16, as refugees from the conflict-hit country continue to take dangerous sea journeys in search of safety and better lives.
The two boats left Myanmar’s Rakhine State in late June, carrying mostly Rohingya people from an ethnic minority group. Some passengers were also believed to be from refugee camps in Bangladesh. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said this in a joint statement based on early information.
They said more than 500 people were feared dead. The agencies added that the incidents and the number of deaths had not yet been officially confirmed, but both UNHCR and IOM were deeply worried about the possible large loss of life.
For years, the Rohingya Muslim minority, who have faced long-term persecution, have risked their lives by traveling on unsafe wooden boats. Many are forced to flee violence in Myanmar and poor living conditions in crowded refugee camps in Bangladesh, hoping to find safety and work opportunities in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
According to the UN, nearly 900 Rohingya refugees died or went missing in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal last year, making it the deadliest sea route for refugees and migrants in the world.
In the latest incidents, the UN agencies said the first boat, carrying about 250 people, lost contact shortly after leaving. A second boat with around 280 people was believed to have sunk off Myanmar’s Irrawaddy coast on July 8.
The agencies said these journeys happened outside the usual sailing season, when sea conditions are generally more dangerous.
The Rohingya crisis began in 2017 when Myanmar’s military launched an operation in Rakhine State, forcing at least 730,000 people to flee to neighboring Bangladesh. Myanmar denies carrying out abuses but does not recognize the Rohingya as citizens, saying they are illegal immigrants.
Their situation has become worse since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, which led to a civil war. Fighting has spread to Rakhine State, where Rohingya people are caught between government forces and the rebel Arakan Army.
UNHCR and IOM said nearly 300 people have been reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal this year, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals.
In November, a boat carrying Rohingya people sank near Langkawi, close to the Thailand–Malaysia border, with only about a dozen survivors.
These journeys often take place during the monsoon season, when bad weather, rough seas, and flooding make travel even more dangerous, especially on overcrowded wooden boats used by smugglers.
The International Organization for Migration and UNHCR warned that these reported sinkings underscore the urgent need for stronger international cooperation to protect refugees attempting to cross the sea. They called for better search and rescue efforts, more access to asylum, stronger international protection, and increased action to stop human trafficking and smuggling networks in the region.
The Associated Press reported that aid agencies continue to warn that without long-term solutions, many Rohingya families feel forced to take these dangerous sea journeys despite the high risk of death.
Source – Indonesia News
