The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have voiced deep concern over reports that two boats carrying more than 500 people, most of them Rohingya, may have capsized off Myanmar's coast, raising fears of one of the deadliest maritime tragedies in the Bay of Bengal this year.
According to preliminary information released by the two UN agencies, the vessels departed from Myanmar's conflict-ridden Rakhine State in late June, carrying mainly Rohingya passengers, including some who had reportedly travelled from refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.
One boat, believed to have been carrying around 250 people, lost contact shortly after leaving shore, while a second vessel carrying approximately 280 passengers is reported to have sunk off Myanmar's Ayeyarwady coast on July 8. The incidents and the number of casualties have not yet been officially confirmed.
If verified, the disaster would bring the number of people reported dead or missing in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal this year to nearly 300, underscoring the growing dangers faced by Rohingya attempting dangerous sea crossings.
UNHCR and IOM said the journeys occurred outside the regular sailing season, when rough seas, heavy monsoon rains and flooding significantly increase the risk of maritime accidents.
The agencies said the reported tragedy reflects the continuing humanitarian crisis affecting Rohingya communities, driven by ongoing conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine State and the absence of durable solutions for displaced populations. They also noted that limited opportunities and declining humanitarian assistance in refugee camps in Bangladesh continue to push some refugees toward perilous irregular migration routes.
The UN agencies further warned that human smuggling and trafficking networks continue to exploit vulnerable people seeking safety, exposing them to life-threatening journeys across one of the world's deadliest maritime corridors.
Calling for urgent regional and international action, UNHCR and IOM urged governments to strengthen search and rescue operations, ensure access to asylum and international protection, and intensify efforts to dismantle transnational smuggling and trafficking networks.
The agencies also acknowledged Bangladesh's longstanding role in hosting nearly one million Rohingya refugees and appealed for sustained international support for both the refugee population and host communities, while emphasizing the need to address the root causes of forced displacement in Myanmar.
UNHCR and IOM said they are continuing to work with governments across South and Southeast Asia to strengthen protection for refugees, migrants and stateless people through a route-based approach aimed at saving lives, reducing harm and supporting safer migration management.
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