More than 500 individuals fleeing violence in Myanmar are feared lifeless after two boats disappeared in tough circumstances off the nation’s coast, in accordance with two UN migration our bodies.
The vessels reportedly departed from Myanmar’s western Rakhine State in late June and have been carrying principally Rohingya passengers, in accordance with a joint assertion from the International Organization for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency Thursday.
One boat reportedly carrying 250 individuals misplaced contact shortly after departure whereas one other, with about 280 passengers, is believed to have sunk off Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8, in accordance with the assertion.
The Rohingya are a stateless Muslim ethnic minority group from Myanmar’s Rakhine state, who’ve confronted a long time of state-sponsored persecution, violence and what the US has categorized as genocide.
While extra than 1 million Rohingya have fled throughout the border to Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, the place they’re principally confined to overcrowded and squalid camps, roughly 630,000 nonetheless reside in Rakhine, according to Human Rights Watch.
Myanmar has been within the throes of bloody civil warfare for extra than 5 years, for the reason that army junta ousted the elected authorities in 2021. At least 100,000 have been killed within the preventing, in accordance with battle monitoring group ACLED.
A grave humanitarian disaster is unfolding in Rakhine, exacerbated by the escalating battle between the junta and the Arakan Army insurgent group, which controls a lot of the state.
Many refugees proceed to make perilous sea journeys on rickety boats to flee the violence.
Some of the passengers feared lifeless had reportedly traveled to Rakhine from the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, the UN our bodies stated.
These journeys passed off exterior of the “regular sailing season,” their assertion stated, when sea circumstances are extra harmful. Recent heavy rainfall and flooding throughout the area have made the journey much more dangerous.
Last week torrential rains triggered lethal mudslides and flooding in Cox’s Bazar, flattening shelters and killing extra than a dozen individuals, together with kids.
While the reviews of the capsized boats have but to be formally confirmed, the IOM and UNHCR stated they’re “gravely concerned by the potentially devastating loss of life.”
Nearly 300 people have already died or been reported missing within the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal up to now this yr, they stated.
“These reports underscore the devastating impact of protracted conflict and displacement, as well as the continued lack of sustainable solutions for Rohingya communities,” the assertion stated.
“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 referred to as for stronger regional and worldwide efforts to forestall additional deaths “along one of the world’s deadliest maritime routes,” together with by “enhanced search and rescue efforts, access to asylum and protection, and actions against smuggling and trafficking networks.”