At least 500 Rohingya feared dead after two boats capsize in Bay of Bengal

At least 500 people are feared dead after two boats carrying Myanmar's Rohingya minority capsized in the bay of Bengal.According to a statement from the International Organisation for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the two boats had left Myanmar's Rakhine state in late June carrying mostly Rohingya passengers, including some who had traveled from refugee camps across the border in Bangladesh.One boat, believed to have been carrying around 250 people, lost contact shortly after departure. A second boat, reportedly carrying 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.The Rohingya, who have fled Myanmar and the overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh in large numbers in recent years, usually avoid sea crossings during the monsoon season, when rough weather makes the journey especially dangerous. The UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said recent torrential rain and flooding across the region would have made such voyages even riskier.Around 1.2 million stateless Rohingya, most of them Muslims, remain confined to overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh after fleeing waves of violence by Myanmar's security forces.The refugees have no safe route back to Myanmar, where the military accused by the United States of committing genocide against the Rohingya in 2017 remains in power. Those still living in Myanmar continue to face severe restrictions, with many confined to internment camps.Meanwhile, deep cuts to foreign aid by the United States and other donor countries have led to reduced food rations in Bangladesh's refugee camps. At the same time, fighting between Myanmar's military and an ethnic armed group in Rakhine State has further worsened the crisis.Thousands of Rohingyas have died during these crossings over the years, including babies, children and pregnant women. Rights groups have also accused regional maritime authorities of abandoning Rohingya boats at sea and failing to respond to distress calls.The IOM and UNHCR said the latest suspected tragedy highlights the absence of long-term solutions for the Rohingya crisis and urged the international community to step up support for refugees in Bangladesh."Stronger regional and international efforts are needed to prevent further loss of life 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," the agencies said.According to the UNHCR, more than 6,500 Rohingya attempted to flee by sea in 2025, while nearly 900 were reported dead or missing, making it the deadliest year on record for Rohingya maritime journeys. The agency said the route now has the highest mortality rate of any major refugee or migrant sea crossing in the world.Catch the latest world news and top headlines. Download the TOI App.