Myanmar boat tragedy: Two boats capsized in the Bay of Bengal, at least 500 Rohingyas may have died
Two boats carrying Myanmar’s Rohingya capsized in the Bay of Bengal, killing at least 500 people.The two ships left Myanmar’s Rakhine state in late June, carrying mostly Rohingya passengers, including some who had crossed the border from refugee camps in Bangladesh, according to a statement from the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.Contact was lost shortly after setting off with a boat believed to be carrying about 250 people. A second boat reportedly carrying 280 people sank on July 8 along the Ayeyarwady River in Myanmar.“While the incident and casualty figures have not yet been officially confirmed, UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration are seriously concerned about the potentially devastating loss of life,” the agencies said.Rohingya, who have fled overcrowded refugee camps in Myanmar and Bangladesh in large numbers in recent years, often avoid crossing the sea during the monsoon season when bad weather makes the journey particularly dangerous. The UN refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) say recent heavy rains and flooding in the area will make such voyages more dangerous.Some 1.2 million stateless Rohingya, the majority of them Muslims, remain confined in overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh after fleeing a wave of violence by Myanmar security forces.Refugees have no safe route back to Myanmar, where the military, accused by the United States of committing genocide against the Rohingya in 2017, remains in power. Those still living in Myanmar continue to face severe restrictions, with many confined to internment camps.Meanwhile, the United States and other donors have slashed foreign aid, resulting in reduced food rations in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, fighting between Myanmar’s military and ethnic armed groups in Rakhine State has further exacerbated the crisis.Thousands of Rohingya have died during these crossings over the years, including infants, children and pregnant women. Rights groups also accuse regional maritime authorities of abandoning Rohingya boats at sea and failing to respond to distress calls.The International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Refugee Agency said the latest suspected tragedy highlighted the lack of long-term solutions to the problem. Rohingya crisis and urged the international community to increase support for Bangladeshi refugees.“Regional and international efforts need to be strengthened to prevent further loss of life on one of the world’s deadliest maritime routes, including by strengthening search and rescue efforts, providing shelter and protection, and combating smuggling and trafficking networks,” the agencies said.According to the UN Refugee Agency, more than 6,500 Rohingya attempted to flee by sea in 2025, and nearly 900 people were reported dead or missing, making it the deadliest year on record for Rohingya sea travel. The agency said the route currently has the highest death rate of any major refugee or migrant crossing in the world.
