At least 500 Rohingya feared dead after two boats capsized in Bay of Bengal . These boats,leaving Myanmar's Rakhine state with passengers from Bangladesh refugee camps, vanished during dangerous sea crossings that are increasingly common as conditions worsen.
First boat, carrying about 250, lost contact soon after leaving late June. Another with around 280 reportedly sank off Myanmar's Ayeyarwady coast on July 8. Exact casualty numbers unconfirmed,but UNHCR and IOM are deeply worried about potential deaths.
Rohingya flee Myanmar due to ongoing violence, many now stuck in overcrowded Bangladesh camps. UNHCR estimates 1.2 million stateless Rohingya live there,facing dire conditions worsened by foreign aid cuts. Food ration reductions leave many struggling .
Rohingya avoid sea travel in monsoon season due to rough waters. But desperation forces attempts. Recent torrential rains and flooding make crossings even riskier,say IOM and UNHCR.
Thousands have died at sea trying to escape in recent years. Rights groups criticize regional maritime authorities for inaction,saying they've abandoned boats in distress. These latest incidents highlight urgent need for solutions to Rohingya crisis.
UNHCR and IOM urge stronger international, regional efforts to prevent tragedies on one of world's deadliest maritime routes. They stress need for better search and rescue, asylum access, and measures against trafficking and smuggling.
In 2025 alone, over 6,500 Rohingya fled by sea,nearly 900 dead or missing, marking deadliest year for Rohingya maritime journeys. Route now most lethal of any major refugee or migrant sea crossing globally .
Rohingya crisis remains complex humanitarian issue,no safe return to Myanmar for those who've fled. Military,accused by U.S. of genocide in 2017,still controls region, leaving many in Myanmar under severe restrictions.
International community grapples with crisis, urgent support needed for Rohingya in Bangladesh . Without action,cycle of tragedy likely continues,claiming more lives in Bay of Bengal's dangerous waters…
