A boat carrying 180 Rohingya refugees capsized and sank near Hai Gyi Island in Ayeyarwady Township, Myanmar. Tragically, 174 passengers lost their lives, while only six managed to survive. All the passengers were from Buthidaung Township. They had set out for Malaysia, but their journey ended in disaster near Hai Gyi Island in Ayeyarwady. “All the victims were from Buthidaung, but among the survivors, three are from Sein Yin Pyin village in southern Buthidaung,” stated a source.
In a recent interview, Saya Arafath, a teacher from the Rohingya community in Myanmar, expressed his profound sorrow over the increasing number of Rohingya deaths at sea since 2005. This tragic event is primarily attributed to the desperate exodus of Rohingya individuals fleeing Myanmar due to their perceived lack of security within their own homes. As a Muslim minority, they have consistently faced persecution and oppression from the Myanmar government. Consequently, they seek refuge in other countries where they can find a sense of safety and belonging.
According to one of the survivors, the journey began on Friday, November 1, from Tha Mee Hla. From there, they were taken to Ponnagyun Township, where they were held for several days. Later, they were put on a boat for the perilous journey to Malaysia. After several days at sea, the boat sank near Hai Gyi Island in Ayeyarwady.
The survivor recounted, “There were 180 people on board, including both men and women. Of them, 174 died, and only six managed to survive by floating on pieces of wood for one or two days.” On November 12, the Myanmar Navy found the survivors floating at sea and rescued them.
Habi Ullah stated that his son consistently compelled him to send him to Malaysia by boat, as he harbored doubts about his future prospects within the Rohingya refugee camp. However, the father remained unresponsive to his son’s concerns, fully cognizant of the arduous challenges faced by individuals attempting to cross the sea, where the likelihood of survival remains uncertain.
The survivors were taken to Ayeyarwady police station and later admitted to a hospital in the region for treatment. “The six survivors rescued by the Myanmar Navy are now receiving medical care in Ayeyarwady,” the source added.
