U.N.: 2 boats fleeing Myanmar are missing, 500 Rohingya believed dead
by Lisa Hornung · UPIJuly 16 (UPI) -- About 500 people aboard boats heading to Bangladesh from Myanmar are feared dead after the vessels disappeared, two United Nations agencies said.
The International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees said preliminary information suggests the two vessels left Myanmar's Rakhine state in late June carrying mostly Rohingya passengers. Some of the passengers had traveled from Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh, home to Rohingya refugee camps.
It's not clear where the boats were headed.
One boat that was carrying about 250 people lost contact soon after it left, and another boat reportedly carrying about 280 people is believed to have sunk off of the coast of Ayeyarwady, Myanmar, on July 8.
The trips were conducted outside of the "regular sailing season," when sea conditions are more dangerous. Recent torrential rain and flooding in the region have increased the risks of these sea travels.
If verified, this tragedy would add to the nearly 300 people reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal this year, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals.
The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic minority from the Myanmar state of Rakhine. They have faced violence and genocide in the country for decades. About 1 million Rohingya have excaped across the border into Cox's Bazar, where they live in crowded, squalid refugee camps.
About 630,000 Rohingya still live in Rakhine, Human Rights Watch reported.
"These reports underscore the devastating impact of protracted conflict and displacement, as well as the continued lack of sustainable solutions for Rohingya communities," a statement from the IOM and UNHCR said. "Escalating conflict and a worsening humanitarian situation in Myanmar, along with limited assistance and opportunities in refugee camps in Bangladesh, contribute to increasing numbers of people attempting perilous sea journeys in search of safety and protection."
The agencies called for stronger regional and international efforts to prevent further deaths "along one of the world's deadliest maritime routes," including through "enhanced search and rescue efforts, access to asylum and protection, and actions against smuggling and trafficking networks."
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