More than 500 people are feared to have died after two boats carrying mostly Rohingya refugees reportedly capsized off the coast of Myanmar, according to the United Nations.
While the incidents have not yet been officially confirmed, the UN says the suspected shipwrecks underscore the worsening humanitarian crisis facing Rohingya communities fleeing conflict and persecution.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) issued a joint statement on Thursday expressing grave concern over reports that two boats carrying more than 500 people may have capsized off Myanmar's coast.
According to preliminary information, both vessels departed from Myanmar's western Rakhine State in late June, carrying mostly Rohingya refugees. Some of those on board had reportedly traveled from the sprawling refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, before embarking on the dangerous sea journey.
The UN agencies said more than 500 people are feared dead, although the incidents and casualty figures have yet to be officially confirmed.
Two boats vanished days apart
The first vessel, believed to have been carrying around 250 passengers, lost contact shortly after leaving Myanmar. A second boat, reportedly carrying approximately 280 people, is believed to have sunk off Myanmar's Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.
"While the incidents and casualty figures have yet to be officially confirmed, UNHCR and IOM are gravely concerned by the potentially devastating loss of life," the agencies said in their joint statement.
Search efforts and investigations into the fate of those on board are continuing as authorities work to establish what happened.
Rohingya continue risking dangerous sea crossings
For years, members of Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority have risked their lives aboard overcrowded and often flimsy wooden boats in search of safety.
Many are fleeing ongoing violence and conflict in Myanmar, while others leave the overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh, where more than 1 million Rohingya refugees live in extremely difficult conditions.
Their destinations often include Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, where they hope to find protection, stability and better opportunities.
Many of these dangerous journeys are reportedly facilitated by smuggling and human trafficking networks, which continue to exploit vulnerable refugees desperate to escape.
The latest crossings occurred outside the regular sailing season, making the voyages particularly dangerous.
UNHCR and IOM noted that maritime conditions are generally more hazardous during this period and said recent torrential rain and widespread flooding across the region further increased the risks associated with sea travel.
The agencies said the suspected sinkings highlight the extreme dangers refugees continue to face while attempting to flee by sea.
Rising death toll in Andaman Sea, Bay of Bengal
The suspected shipwrecks add to an already worsening humanitarian crisis in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.
According to UNHCR and IOM, nearly 300 people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, have already been reported missing or dead in the region this year.
If the latest reports are confirmed, the disaster would become one of the deadliest maritime tragedies involving Rohingya refugees in recent years.
The UNHCR also noted that nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead in the northern Indian Ocean in 2025, out of more than 6,500 people who attempted similar sea crossings.
Humanitarian crisis continues to deepen
The UN agencies said the latest reported tragedy reflects the devastating impact of prolonged conflict, displacement and the absence of lasting solutions for Rohingya communities.
They warned that escalating fighting in Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine State, coupled with worsening humanitarian conditions, is forcing increasing numbers of Rohingya to undertake perilous journeys.
The agencies also pointed to limited humanitarian assistance and shrinking opportunities inside refugee camps in Bangladesh as key factors driving more people to risk dangerous sea crossings.
Recent cuts to foreign aid by the United States and other donor countries have also reduced food rations in Bangladesh's refugee camps, further worsening living conditions for displaced families.
Rohingya remain unable to return home
Around 1.2 million stateless Rohingya remain in refugee camps across Bangladesh after fleeing brutal military operations in Myanmar.
The refugees have no safe path to return home, where Myanmar's military, which the United States has said committed genocide against the Rohingya in 2017, continues to control large parts of their homeland.
Those who remain inside Myanmar continue to face severe restrictions, while many are confined to internment camps.
At the same time, fighting between Myanmar's military and an ethnic armed organization in Rakhine State has further destabilized the region, leaving civilians trapped in increasingly dangerous conditions.
Thousands of Rohingya have attempted dangerous sea crossings in recent years, with many, including babies, children and pregnant women, losing their lives during the journey.
The boats are often overcrowded and poorly equipped, while reports have frequently accused regional maritime authorities of abandoning Rohingya vessels at sea or failing to respond to distress calls.
The latest suspected sinkings once again highlight the deadly risks facing one of the world's most vulnerable refugee populations.
UN calls for stronger international action
In response to the latest reports, UNHCR and IOM called for enhanced search and rescue operations, greater access to asylum and international protection for refugees, and stronger action against smuggling and human trafficking networks operating in the region.
The agencies also praised Bangladesh for its "remarkable generosity" in hosting Rohingya refugees for many years, while stressing that the country cannot shoulder the burden alone.
They urged the international community to provide sustained financial and humanitarian support for both refugees and host communities, while also addressing the root causes of forced displacement to prevent future tragedies.
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