Over 500, principally Rohingya passengers, feared lifeless as boat capsizes off Myanmar’s coast: UN | World Information
2 min learnUp to date: Jul 16, 2026 02:58 PM IST
Two boats with 500 individuals aboard could have capsized off Myanmar’s coast in latest days, stated UN businesses, because the refugees tried harmful sea crossings in the hunt for security and higher dwelling situations.
The 2 vessels departed Myanmar’s Rakhine State in late June and principally carried ethnic minority Rohingya passengers, the Worldwide Group for Migration and the UN’s refugee company stated in a joint assertion, citing preliminary data. The boats reportedly included some passengers from refugee camps in Bangladesh.
The company stated that over 500 have been feared lifeless within the incidents.
“Whereas the incidents and casualty figures have but to be formally confirmed, UNHCR and IOM are gravely involved by the possibly devastating lack of life,” the joint assertion stated.
In 2025, practically 900 Rohingya refugees both went lacking within the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal or died, making the maritime route the world’s deadliest for migrants and refugees, stated the UN.
‘Journeys befell exterior the common crusing season,’ says the assertion
In keeping with UN businesses, the primary boat misplaced contact shortly after departure. It had about 250 individuals on board.
The second boat, carrying 280 individuals, was believed to have capsized off Myanmar’s Irrawaddy coast on July 8.
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“These journeys befell exterior the common crusing season, when maritime situations are sometimes extra hazardous,” the assertion stated.
UNHCR and IOM stated that just about 300 individuals, together with Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, are reported to be lacking within the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal in 2026.
The Rohingya refugee disaster started in 2017 after the Myanmar navy launched a significant offensive in Rakhine State, triggering a mass exodus. This led to at the very least 730,000 in search of shelter in Bangladesh.
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