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 Migration (IOM) and its refugee agency UNHCR voiced alarm in a joint statement at reports “that two boats carrying more than 500 people may have capsized off the coast of Myanmar in recent days”.

Preliminary information indicated that the two vessels in question departed from war-torn Myanmar’s Rakhine state in late June, with mainly members of the country’s mostly Muslim Rohingya minority onboard, the statement said.

Some had reportedly travelled from the huge camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar, where more than million Rohingya refugees live in squalid conditions.

According to UNHCR, nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead at sea in the northern Indian Ocean last year alone – out of more than 6,500 who had attempted such perilous sea crossings.

Rohingya undertake perilous sea journeys every year in search of better living conditions, travelling aboard rickety boats often operated by trafficking networks.

The statement said one boat, believed to have been carrying about 250 people, lost contact shortly after departure.

A second boat, reportedly carrying about 280 people, is meanwhile believed to have sunk off Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on 8 July.

“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 statement said.

The UN agencies highlighted that the journeys “took place outside the regular sailing season, when maritime conditions are typically more hazardous”.

“Recent torrential rain and flooding across the region have further increased the risks associated with such sea movements.”

The statement cautioned that “if verified, this tragedy would add to the nearly 300 people reported to be missing or to have lost their lives in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal so far this year, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals”.

Thursday’s statement stressed that the latest reported tragedies “underscore the devastating impact of protracted conflict and displacement, as well as the continued lack of sustainable solutions for Rohingya communities”.

“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,” they pointed out.

“The reported incidents also highlight the persistent risks posed by smuggling and trafficking networks, which continue to exploit the desperation of people seeking safety,” they added.

IOM and UNHCR called for “enhanced search and rescue efforts, access to asylum and protection, and actions against smuggling and trafficking networks”.

The agencies hailed Bangladesh for its “remarkable generosity in hosting Rohingya refugees for many years”, but stressed the need for “sustained international support” for the refugees and host communities, as well as “greater efforts to address the underlying drivers of forced displacement”. (The Guardian)

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Resident Coordinator of the United Nations to Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche, has raised concerns over the continuous detention of a group of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in Sri Lanka. 

In a statement, Marc-André Franche said in December 2024, a group of 116 Rohingyas arrived in Sri Lanka by sea and since been in detention in Mullaitivu.

Commending the Government and the Sri Lanka Navy for rescuing them and providing humanitarian assistance, he urged the authorities to also provide access to the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in line with the long-standing agreement with the Government and proceed with registration. 

“The UNHCR has reiterated its offer to proceed with registration so they can be released from detention. As underlined to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in line with the call of the United Nations Secretary-General to continue protecting the Rohingya people, we recall that prolonged detention infringes their rights and is an obstacle to durable solutions,” he added.

The UN Resident Coordinator to Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche, pointed out that as the United Nations marks 8 years since the forced mass displacement from Rakhine State, Rohingya people in and outside of Myanmar are facing a further deterioration of their already dire circumstances. (Newswire)

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A group of Rohingya Refugees in Sri Lanka have called on the United Nations Office to address their current plight, claiming they remain stateless.

The group was seen holding a protest in front of the United Nations Headquarters in Colombo this morning.

“We are a stateless people and fled imminent deaths in our land in Myanmar. We were rescued by Sri Lanka when facing imminent death at sea,” they said. 

However, the Rohingya Refugees claim that at present, they are facing slow death, especially starvation and homelessness, without hope for durable solutions. 

“Our peaceful protest is not against anyone, but an appeal to all to find durable solutions and help us deal with other immediate challenges such as starvation, homelessness, education and healthcare,” they added. (Newswire)

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The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has released a report on the status of Rohingya asylum seekers detained at the Mullaitivu Air Force Camp following their arrival by boat in December 2024.

The report highlighted concerns over their detention conditions, the legal obligations of Sri Lanka under international human rights laws, and the need to ensure child welfare and protection.

HRCSL Report on the Status of Rohingya Asylum Seekers Detained in Mullaitivu and Related Issues

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A protest was held near the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today against the government’s decision to deport the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar who had arrived in Sri Lanka recently seeking asylum.

The protest was conducted by several civil activists, who claimed that the Rohingya refugees are placed at an Army Camp and UN agencies have been denied access to them.

The protesters urged the government to refrain from deporting the Rohingya refugees and consider an alternative solution. 

A group of 116 Rohingya refugees was rescued off the Mullaitivu coast on 19 December 2024.

On 03 January 2025, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala said the government was considering deporting the Rohingya refugees.

However, the decision caused an uproar, with several parties including politicians and civil activists, calling on the government to reconsider its move. (Newswire)

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Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala says information has been received that over 100,000 illegal immigrants are likely to arrive in Sri Lanka in the coming days. 

Minister Wijepala informed Parliament today that the information has been received based on investigations conducted by the Sri Lanka Police and Army Intelligence Unit related to the group of Rohingya refugees that arrived in Sri Lanka recently.

Minister Wijepala said that the government will identify the issue of illegal immigrants as a social issue in Sri Lanka. 

He further said that 116 Rohingya Refugees had recently arrived by boat to Sri Lanka and that a Police investigation was underway into the incident.

“The group has paid around 50 million in their currency for this journey. They have also paid 80 million to the human traffickers. A Police probe is underway into the refugees,” he said. 

The Public Security Minister noted that if the illegal immigrants are identified as refugees, then action will be initiated based on that, adding that the government was ready to work according to International laws.

“We have provided the group of refugees with all necessary facilities, including food and water, through the Department of Immigration and Emigration,” he said briefing the Parliament on the current state of the Rohingya refugees. 

Minister Ananda Wijepala made the remarks in response to a question raised by Opposition MP Rauff Hakeem related to the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar who were rescued off the Mullaitivu coast on 19 December 2024. (Newswire)

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Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called on the government to refrain from acting in an inhumane manner by immediately deporting the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar who had arrived in Mullaitivu recently seeking asylum in Sri Lanka. 

Addressing the Parliament yesterday, MP Premadasa said the government is attempting to immediately deport them, which was a violation of human rights.

Pointing out that the Rohingya refugees are those who have faced severe penalization in their own nation, MP Premadasa urged the government to adhere to the principle of non-refoulement when addressing this issue.

“We cannot forcibly deport them. Stop this act immediately and hold discussions with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other relevant organizations. We must provide the Rohingya refugees with humane assistance,” he added. 

A group of 103 Rohingya refugees, including over 40 children, were rescued off the Mullaitivu coast on 19 December 2024.

On 03 January 2025, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala said the government was considering deporting the Rohingya refugees.

At the time, Minister Wijepala said his government had begun discussing the issue with Myanmar authorities, and deportation could occur only after the legal process.

However, the decision caused an uproar, with several opposition politicians including SJB’s Mujibur Rahman and ACMC Leader Rishad Bathiudeen, calling on the government to reconsider its move. (Newswire)

“Don’t become inhumane. Do not forcibly deport them. Act according to the laws,” says Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa commenting on the Government’s decision to return Rohingya refugees from Myanmar seeking asylum in Sri Lanka. pic.twitter.com/UQRILMYb2s

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) January 8, 2025

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All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Leader MP Rishad Bathiudeen has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to reconsider the decision to forcibly return the group of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar currently seeking asylum in Sri Lanka.

In a letter addressed to the President, MP Bathiudeen said Sri Lanka must adhere to international humanitarian principles and consider the well-being of these individuals who have fled persecution in their homeland. 

He further advised that it would be appropriate to collaborate with the United Nations to identify a suitable third country where these refugees can resettle, with their consent, once it is deemed safe for them.

MP Rishad Bathiudeen’s letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake,

Your Excellency,

This is to inform you with grave concern regarding the decision to repatriate the Rohingya refugees currently seeking asylum in Sri Lanka. It is my firm belief that we must adhere to international humanitarian principles and consider the well-being of these individuals who have fled persecution in their homeland.

The Rohingya people, as you are aware, have sought refuge in our country due to severe violence and oppression in Myanmar. They have come to Sri Lanka not as economic migrants, but out of genuine fear for their lives. The international community, including the United Nations, recognizes the plight of these individuals, and it is incumbent upon us as a nation that values human rights and dignity to offer them protection during their time of vulnerability.

We must ensure that our actions align with international laws and conventions on refugees, which emphasize the principle of non-refoulement – the prohibition of sending individuals back to places where they face threats to their lives or freedom. By upholding this principle, Sri Lanka will not only protect the rights of these vulnerable individuals but also demonstrate its commitment to international humanitarian standards.

Historically, Sri Lanka has been a land of refuge for those fleeing persecution. Many Sri Lankans have themselves lived as refugees in other countries during times of conflict. It is critical to remember that the current situation of the Rohingya refugees mirrors the struggles we have faced as a nation in the past. In light of this, I urge you to reconsider the decision to forcibly return these people to Myanmar, where their safety and human rights are still at risk.

I kindly request that these refugees be treated with respect and dignity while they remain in Sri Lanka. They should not be treated as prisoners but as people in need of our compassion and support. Furthermore, it would be appropriate to collaborate with the United Nations to identify a suitable third country where these refugees can resettle, with their consent, once it is deemed safe for them. (Newswire)

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