Scores Feared Drowned in Double Rohingya Shipwreck Tragedy

More than 400 Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority, are feared to have drowned in two separate shipwrecks off the coast of Myanmar earlier this month, the United Nations has confirmed. If verified, these incidents would mark the deadliest maritime tragedies involving Rohingya refugees so far this year.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported on Friday that preliminary information indicates a vessel carrying 267 people sank on May 9, with only 66 survivors. The following day, a second ship with 247 Rohingya on board capsized, leaving just 21 survivors. The individuals on board were reportedly fleeing either the sprawling Cox’s Bazar refugee camps in Bangladesh or the escalating conflict in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State.

The Rohingya have faced decades of persecution in Myanmar, leading thousands to undertake perilous sea journeys annually on makeshift boats in desperate attempts to find safety. The recent tragedies underscore the dire circumstances faced by this stateless population, exacerbated by dwindling humanitarian aid.

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Filippo Grandi, UNHCR High Commissioner, posted on social media that the news serves as a “reminder of the desperate situation” of the Rohingya and the hardships endured by refugees in Bangladesh as humanitarian assistance diminishes.

The situation in Rakhine State has been particularly volatile since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, which ousted the elected government. Fierce fighting between the military and the Arakan Army, an ethnic minority rebel group, has intensified, contributing to a wider civil war across the country.

Hai Kyung Jun, who leads UNHCR’s regional bureau for Asia and the Pacific, stated that the “dire humanitarian situation, exacerbated by funding cuts, is having a devastating impact on the lives of Rohingya, with more and more resorting to dangerous journeys to seek safety, protection and a dignified life.”

In 2024, an estimated 657 Rohingya perished in the region’s waters, according to UNHCR. The UN refugee agency, along with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), recently appealed for $934.5 million in funding for 2025-2026 to support Rohingya refugees and their host communities in Bangladesh. However, the appeal is currently only 30% funded, with overall international aid for Rohingya refugees declining. This shortfall forces critical reductions in essential services, including food assistance and basic shelter, potentially pushing more Rohingya to undertake dangerous journeys.

More than a million Rohingya fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar’s Rakhine State in 2017 following a brutal military crackdown. While efforts have been made to facilitate returns, the ongoing conflict and humanitarian conditions in Myanmar remain a significant barrier. Around 180,000 of those who fled are now facing potential deportation back to Myanmar, while those who remained in Rakhine continue to live in dire conditions, often confined to camps.