- UN raises alarm over missing Rohingya refugees
- Two boats reportedly sank off Myanmar coast
- Agencies seek urgent rescue and support efforts
The United Nations has expressed deep concern over reports that more than 500 people may have died after two boats carrying Rohingya refugees reportedly capsized off the coast of Myanmar in recent weeks.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, Eko Hot Blog gathered that the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said preliminary information suggested the vessels left Myanmar’s conflict-ridden Rakhine State in late June, transporting mainly Rohingya Muslims seeking safety.
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Some of the passengers were also believed to have departed from the overcrowded refugee settlements in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, where over one million Rohingya refugees currently live.
According to the agencies, one of the boats, carrying an estimated 250 people, reportedly disappeared shortly after setting sail.
A second vessel, said to have had about 280 passengers onboard, is believed to have sunk near Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.
Although authorities have yet to officially verify the incidents or casualty figures, the UN agencies described the reports as deeply troubling and warned that the potential loss of life could be catastrophic.
The statement noted that the voyages took place outside the usual migration season, when sea conditions are generally more dangerous. Heavy rainfall and flooding across the region have further heightened the risks for those attempting such crossings.
If confirmed, the latest disasters would bring the number of people reported dead or missing in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal this year to nearly 800, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals.
Thousands of Rohingya continue to risk dangerous sea journeys each year aboard overcrowded and poorly equipped boats in search of safety and better living conditions, often relying on human trafficking and smuggling networks.
UNHCR estimates that nearly 900 Rohingya refugees either died or disappeared during similar sea crossings in 2025, out of more than 6,500 who attempted the journey.
The agencies said the latest reports reflect the worsening humanitarian crisis facing the Rohingya, driven by ongoing violence in Myanmar and limited opportunities available in refugee camps in Bangladesh.
They also warned that criminal trafficking networks continue to exploit the desperation of displaced people seeking protection.
UNHCR and IOM urged governments across the region to strengthen search-and-rescue operations, provide access to asylum and international protection, and intensify efforts to dismantle human trafficking and migrant smuggling networks.
The agencies also praised Bangladesh for continuing to host large numbers of Rohingya refugees while calling on the international community to increase support for both displaced people and host communities, alongside renewed efforts to address the root causes of the crisis.
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