UN: Over 500 Rohingya Refugees Likely Dead After Two Boats Sink

▲ Rohingya refugees

The United Nations stated that more than 500 Rohingya refugees may have died after two boats carrying them sank off the coast of Myanmar recently.

In a joint statement on July 16 (local time), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced that the boats departed from Rakhine State in western Myanmar, where the Rohingya population is concentrated, late last month.

One boat, estimated to be carrying about 250 people, lost contact shortly after departure, while the other, reportedly carrying about 280 people, sank off the coast of Ayeyarwady Region in central Myanmar on July 8.

Most of those on board were Rohingya, and some were reportedly from the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Chattogram (formerly Chittagong) District in southeastern Bangladesh, which borders Rakhine State.

While the UNHCR and IOM noted that the number of casualties has not yet been officially confirmed, they expressed "grave concern over the potential for a horrific loss of life."

They pointed out that the movement of these boats "took place outside of the regular sailing season," adding that "sea conditions are generally more dangerous during this time."

They also added that "recent heavy rains and flooding in the region have further increased the risks associated with such maritime movements."

In the Cox's Bazar refugee camps, 16 refugees have died in two separate landslides caused by heavy rain since July 6.

The UNHCR stated that throughout last year, approximately 6,500 Rohingya fled by sea, with about 900 people dying or going missing in the process.

This mortality rate is the highest among major maritime routes for refugees and migrants worldwide.

So far this year, about 5,400 Rohingya refugees have fled by boat, and it is reported that approximately 540 have died or gone missing.

The Rohingya, who are Muslim, have long faced persecution as a minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

In particular, since 2017, at least hundreds of thousands have fled to Bangladesh to escape large-scale military clearance operations by the Myanmar government.

However, food rations in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh have recently been reduced due to factors such as cuts in U.S. foreign aid, and their survival is also threatened by intense fighting between the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups in Rakhine State.

As a result, many Rohingya have attempted to flee to Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country, by boat, but cases of death and disappearance at sea continue due to the poor condition of the vessels.

The UNHCR and IOM stated that the number of Rohingya refugees embarking on dangerous voyages is increasing due to the intensification of the civil war in Myanmar, the worsening humanitarian situation, and a lack of support in the refugee camps in Bangladesh. They added, "The reported incidents highlight the ongoing risks posed by smuggling and trafficking networks that exploit the desperation of people seeking safety."

They further urged governments to strengthen search and rescue operations for Rohingya refugees, expand access to asylum and protection, and take action against smuggling and human trafficking organizations.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)

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