Myanmar: More than 500 feared dead in capsized refugee boats

A joint statement from two United Nations agencies has raised alarm over the potential loss of over 500 lives in two separate boat incidents off the coast of Myanmar in recent weeks. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that two vessels, believed to be carrying mostly Rohingya passengers, may have capsized.

Preliminary information suggests the boats departed from Myanmar's Rakhine State in late June. Some passengers were reportedly en route from refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. The first boat, carrying an estimated 250 people, lost contact shortly after setting sail. The second vessel, with approximately 280 individuals on board, is thought to have capsized near Myanmar's Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.

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According to preliminary information, the two vessels departed from Myanmar's Rakhine State in late June carrying mostly Rohingya passengers, reportedly including some who had travelled from refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

A UNHCR spokesperson emphasized that these figures and incidents are based on preliminary information gathered from various sources and are still awaiting official confirmation. If verified, these tragedies would tragically increase the number of people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal this year, which already stands at nearly 300.

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If verified, this tragedy would add to the nearly 300 people reported to be missing or to have lost their lives in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal so far this year, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals.