How two boats with 500 people disappeared almost without trace
So why are so many increasingly risking their lives taking such a dangerous journey?Who are the Rohingya?The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic minority from the north-west of Myanmar's Rakhine State who have long endured persecution and violence. Smoke rises from a burned house in Myanmar's Rakhine state in 2017. (AP)Since 2017, tens of thousands more Rohingya have swollen the refugee camps in Cox's Bazar to an estimated 1.2 million living in a "labyrinthine tent city" covering about 24 square kilometres. About three-quarters are women and children.At the same time, thousands seeking a better life have attempted to make their way to other South-East Asian countries, especially Malaysia, via land and the deadly maritime route.
- ▪So why are so many increasingly risking their lives taking such a dangerous journey?Who are the Rohingya?The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic minority from the north-west of Myanmar's Rakhine State who have long endured persecution and violence
- ▪Smoke rises from a burned house in Myanmar's Rakhine state in 2017. (AP)Since 2017, tens of thousands more Rohingya have swollen the refugee camps in Cox's Bazar to an estimated 1.2 million living in a "labyrinthine tent city" covering abou
- ▪About three-quarters are women and children.At the same time, thousands seeking a better life have attempted to make their way to other South-East Asian countries, especially Malaysia, via land and the deadly maritime route.
ABC News (Australia) publishes from Australia and files mainly under world. We currently carry 1,247 of its stories.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Why more Rohingya are taking deadly boat journeysBy Will JacksonTopic:RefugeesPosted Sun 26 Jul 2026 at 5:27amSun 26 Jul 2026 at 5:27amSun 26 Jul 2026 at 5:27amPeople smugglers charter wooden fishing boats to transport Rohingya asylum seekers to countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. (AFP: Cek Mad)abc.net.au/news/more-than-500-rohingya-drown-in-boat-sinkings/106944250Link copiedShareShare articleTwo boats carrying more than 500 Rohingya asylum seekers have disappeared almost without a trace off the coast of Myanmar in recent weeks.The tragedy brings the number of people reported lost at sea in the region this year to more than 800 — nearly reaching last year's record total of about 900.One in seven Rohingya who attempted the sea journey in search of safety and a better life last year were…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).