GENEVA: More than 500 people are feared dead after two boats carrying mostly Rohingya refugees reportedly sank off Myanmar’s coast, the United Nations said, warning that the tragedy could rank among the deadliest maritime disasters involving the persecuted minority.
In a joint statement, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said the two vessels, carrying more than 500 people, are believed to have capsized in recent days after departing from Myanmar’s conflict-ravaged Rakhine State in late June. Most of those on board were members of the Rohingya Muslim minority.
The agencies said some passengers had also departed from refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, where more than one million Rohingya refugees continue to live in overcrowded and difficult conditions after fleeing violence in Myanmar.
According to preliminary information, one boat carrying about 250 people disappeared shortly after setting sail, while another vessel with around 280 passengers is believed to have sunk near Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.
The U.N. agencies cautioned that the incidents and the reported death toll have not yet been officially confirmed.
They added that the journeys took place during a particularly dangerous period for sea travel, with seasonal storms, heavy rainfall and flooding significantly increasing the risks faced by migrants attempting the crossing.