More Than 500 Feared Dead After Two Rohingya Refugee Boats Overturn Off Myanmar Coast

Two boats carrying Rohingya refugees capsized in the Bay of Bengal near the coast of Myanmar, raising fears that more than 500 people may have lost their lives in one of the deadliest incidents involving Rohingya refugees in recent times. According to a joint statement issued by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), preliminary information indicates that the two boats departed from Myanmar's western Rakhine State in late June. Most of the passengers on board were Rohingya refugees, while some had travelled from refugee camps in Bangladesh. In their joint statement, the agencies said that the incident and the number of casualties have not yet been officially confirmed. However, both UNHCR and IOM expressed deep concern over the possibility of significant loss of life. The agencies said the first boat, carrying around 250 people, lost contact shortly after departing. The second boat, with approximately 280 people on board, is believed to have sunk near Myanmar's Ayeyarwady coast on July 8. While official confirmation is still awaited, UNHCR and IOM continue to monitor the situation closely and have voiced serious concern over the scale of the possible humanitarian tragedy.