Rohingya boat sinks while fleeing Myanmar conflict; 9 missing

Nine Rohingya refugees are missing after their boat capsized in the Naf River, a border waterway between Bangladesh and Myanmar. The refugees were reportedly fleeing escalating clashes in Myanmar's Rakhine State between the military and ethnic rebels from the Arakan Army (AA).

Local fishermen rescued 18 individuals from the capsized vessel and transferred them to Bangladeshi border guards. Eyewitnesses reported that strong currents and rough waves caused the boat to lose balance and sink. A local newspaper cited a fisherman's account that 31 people were aboard, raising the possibility of more missing individuals.

The Naf River is a frequent transit point for Rohingya fleeing persecution in Rakhine State. This route has seen numerous deadly incidents. In 2024 alone, an estimated 200 Rohingya refugees died due to suspected shelling and drone attacks by the Arakan Army while crossing the river. The Rohingya, a Muslim minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, have faced long-standing persecution.

Following a large-scale military crackdown in 2017, triggered by attacks on police posts in Rakhine State, many Rohingya were killed, and approximately 730,000 fled to Bangladesh. Currently, an estimated one million Rohingya live in refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.