UN Reports 427 Rohingya Dead in Two Myanmar Shipwrecks

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that at least 427 Rohingya refugees died in two separate boat tragedies off the coast of Myanmar in early May, marking the deadliest maritime incident involving Rohingya this year. The first boat, carrying 267 people mostly from the Cox’s Bazar refugee camps in Bangladesh and Rakhine State, sank on May 9 with only 66 survivors, while a second boat carrying 247 refugees capsized on May 10 with 21 survivors. These journeys occurred during the dangerous monsoon season, worsening the perilous conditions faced by refugees fleeing persecution and dire humanitarian situations, exacerbated by funding cuts to aid agencies. A third boat carrying 188 Rohingya was intercepted on May 14, highlighting ongoing attempts to escape repression. UNHCR emphasized the urgent need for stronger protection in first-asylum countries and greater international responsibility-sharing to prevent such tragedies and alleviate the desperation driving these dangerous sea crossings. The Rohingya have fled Myanmar since a brutal military crackdown in 2017, seeking refuge primarily in Bangladesh, though many remain at grave risk during their attempts to find safety by sea.