Two boats carrying more than 500 people are feared to have capsized off the coast of Myanmar in recent weeks, according to a joint statement released by two UN agencies on Thursday.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that a first boat carrying 250 people lost contact shortly after heading out to sea. A second vessel carrying 280 people is believed to have capsized off Myanmar's Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.

The statement said that if verified, this tragedy would add to the nearly 300 people reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal so far this year, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals.

The Rohingya are a Muslim minority group from Myanmar's Rakhine state who have faced widespread persecution. After fleeing a campaign of persecution by Myanmar security forces in 2017, more than 1.2 million Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh, where they live in squalid conditions in packed camps.

UNHCR estimates that in 2025, 6,500 Rohingya attempted perilous sea journeys to seek better living conditions, with nearly 900 Rohingya reported missing or dead at sea in the northern Indian Ocean in 2026. Most are trying to reach Malaysia, Indonesia, or Thailand.

The UN agencies expressed grave concern over the potentially devastating loss of life, though the incidents and casualty figures have yet to be officially confirmed. Escalating conflict in Myanmar and limited opportunities in Bangladesh camps are driving increasing numbers to attempt dangerous sea crossings.

Source: www.dw.com