World
Over 500 Rohingya feared dead after two suspected shipwrecks off Myanmar, UN reports
The IOM and UNHCR released a joint statement on July 16, 2026, reporting that over 500 people are feared dead following two suspected shipwrecks off Myanmar since late June 2026. The two vessels departed from Rakhine State carrying primarily Rohingya refugees. The first boat, carrying approximately 250 people, lost all contact shortly after departure. The second vessel, with approximately 280 people aboard, is believed to have sunk on July 8, 2026, off the Ayeyarwady coast. The statement calls for strengthened rescue operations and action against human trafficking networks exploiting vulnerable refugees.