More than 500 people are feared dead following reports that two boats carrying members of Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya minority capsized in the Bay of Bengal, officials stated Thursday. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) confirmed preliminary information indicates the two vessels departed Myanmar’s western Rakhine state in late June.
Passengers on these boats were predominantly Rohingya, with some originating from refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh. One boat, believed to have been carrying approximately 250 individuals, lost contact shortly after its departure. A second vessel, reportedly with 280 people aboard, is thought to have sunk off Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.
"While the incidents and casualty figures have yet to be officially confirmed, UNHCR and IOM are gravely concerned by the potentially devastating loss of life,” the agencies said in a statement.
The Rohingya people, who have fled Myanmar and Bangladesh’s refugee camps in recent years, typically avoid such sea journeys during the monsoon season due to dangerous conditions. The UNHCR and IOM noted that recent torrential rain and flooding across the region would have made these crossings particularly perilous.
Approximately 1.2 million stateless Rohingya remain in overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh after fleeing violence by Myanmar’s security forces. Many face severe restrictions and internment in Myanmar, where the military remains in power. This situation has been exacerbated by significant cuts to foreign aid, leading to ration reductions in the refugee camps. Concurrently, conflict over control of the Rakhine region between the ruling military and an ethnic armed organization has intensified.
The unrest has prompted an increasing number of Rohingya to attempt dangerous sea crossings to Malaysia on rickety boats, a journey on which thousands, including children and pregnant women, have died. Reports indicate that maritime authorities have frequently failed to assist distressed Rohingya vessels.
The IOM and UNHCR emphasized that this latest potential tragedy highlights the ongoing lack of sustainable solutions for the Rohingya and called for international support for those in Bangladesh’s camps. "Stronger regional and international efforts are needed to prevent further loss of life along one of the world’s deadliest maritime routes, including through enhanced search and rescue efforts, access to asylum and protection, and actions against smuggling and trafficking networks,” the agencies stated.
In 2025, more than 6,500 Rohingya fled by sea, with nearly 900 reported dead or missing, marking it as the deadliest year for such journeys and the highest mortality rate of any major refugee and migrant sea route globally, according to the UNHCR.