Over 500 Rohingya refugees feared dead as boats capsize in Bay of Bengal

More than 500 people are feared dead following the capsizing of two boats carrying members of Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya minority in the Bay of Bengal, officials reported. The incidents occurred after the boats left Myanmar's western Rakhine state in late June.

Preliminary information suggests the vessels carried mostly Rohingya passengers, including some who had traveled from refugee camps in Bangladesh. One boat, believed to have been carrying around 250 people, lost contact shortly after departure. A second boat, reportedly carrying 280 individuals, is thought to have sunk off Myanmar's Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.

Authorities in Myanmar, including the Ministry of Home Affairs and regional government spokespeople, declined to comment on the incidents. Meanwhile, approximately 1.2 million stateless Rohingya remain in overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh, having fled violence in Myanmar where the military, responsible for killing thousands in 2017, remains in power.

The refugees face perilous conditions, with no safe return to Myanmar. Steep cuts in foreign aid have led to ration cuts in the camps. The increasing unrest has prompted more Rohingya to attempt dangerous sea crossings to Malaysia on rickety boats, a journey that has claimed thousands of lives, including infants and pregnant women. Local maritime authorities have often been criticized for abandoning Rohingya at sea.

The International Organization for Migration and the UNHCR stated that these latest potential tragedies underscore the persistent lack of sustainable solutions for the Rohingya. They urged the international community to provide continued support to those stranded in Bangladesh's camps.

“

the latest potential tragedy at sea underscores the continued lack of sustainable solutions for the Rohingya, and urged the international community to support those trapped in Bangladesh’s camps.