United Nations agencies say more than 500 people, mostly members of Myanmar's Rohingya minority, are feared dead after reports of two shipwrecks off the country's coast since late June.
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Key facts
- The UN says more than 500 people are feared dead in two suspected shipwrecks off Myanmar.
- The IOM and UNHCR issued a joint statement warning two boats may have capsized in recent days.
- The vessels are believed to have departed Myanmar in late June.
- Passengers were mostly from the Rohingya minority, departing Rakhine State.
The United Nations has said more than 500 people are feared dead following reports of two large shipwrecks off the coast of Myanmar since late June.
The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) and its refugee agency, UNHCR, voiced alarm in a joint statement over reports “that two boats carrying more than 500 people may have capsized off the coast of Myanmar in recent days,” according to the Guardian.
The vessels are believed to have departed from Myanmar in late June, carrying mostly members of the country’s Rohingya minority. According to Al Jazeera, the IOM and UNHCR said the two boats set off from Rakhine State.
The reports remain unconfirmed. The agencies described the figure of more than 500 as the number of people feared to have been on board the boats that may have sunk, rather than a confirmed death toll. Further details on survivors or recovery efforts were not provided in the initial reports.
Why it matters
If confirmed, the incident would involve the loss of more than 500 lives among people attempting sea crossings from Myanmar. The reports remain unverified, and the number of survivors and any recovery efforts are not yet known.
Frequently asked questions
How many people are feared dead?
The UN says more than 500 people are feared dead after reports that two boats carrying that many passengers may have capsized off Myanmar's coast in recent days.
Who was on board the boats?
According to the IOM and UNHCR, the passengers were mostly members of Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority, and the boats departed from Rakhine State in late June.
Which organisations reported the disaster?
The UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN refugee agency UNHCR raised the alarm in a joint statement.
Timeline
- More than 500 feared dead after reports of boats capsizing off Myanmar
Al Jazeera: The IOM and UNHCR say two boats carrying mostly Rohingya passengers departed Rakhine State in late June.
- More than 500 feared dead after reports of two shipwrecks off Myanmar, UN says
The Guardian World: Vessels believed to have departed from Myanmar in late June, with mostly Muslim Rohingya minority onboard The United Nations has said more than 500 people are feared dead after reports of two large shipwrecks off Myanmar since late June. The UN’s International Organization for Mi
- Hundreds of refugees feared dead after two suspected shipwrecks off Myanmar: UN
The Guardian World: Vessels believed to have departed from Myanmar in late June, with mostly Muslim Rohingya minority onboard The United Nations has said more than 500 people are feared dead after reports of two large shipwrecks off Myanmar since late June. The UN’s International Organization for Mi