On June 29, two boats carrying around 530 Rohingya asylum seekers left Rakhine state in Myanmar. Since their departure, nobody has heard from them. The dangerous monsoon season has started, and the sea conditions are rough. These boats, which are old fishing trawlers, likely capsized in the water. Many of the people on board may have been women and children. The war in Rakhine state has made life very difficult for the Rohingya community, who face violence and discrimination. Over the years, the military junta has subjected them to forced conscription, and the Arakan Army, opposing the military, does not trust Rohingyas. Many Rohingya are trying to escape to Malaysia for safety. Normally, families expect to hear from their loved ones within a week, but nearly three weeks have passed without news. This raises concern about their safety, especially with reports of bodies found in the sea. This suggests that the boats may have sunk, and sadly, there might be few survivors. With around a million Rohingyas living in overcrowded Bangladesh camps, where aid is running out, they feel they have no choice but to risk everything to find a better life. The situation for the Rohingyas is very serious. If international authorities do not intervene soon, many more lives may be lost in this dangerous struggle for survival.
B1 · Intermediate · 219 words · ~1 min
Word notebook · B1
Tap a highlighted word in the text, or study the list below.
- asylum seekers
- people who seek protection in another country due to fear of persecution in their home country.
- monsoon
- a seasonal wind that brings heavy rain, especially in South Asia.
- discrimination
- the unfair treatment of a person or group based on characteristics like ethnicity or religion.
- conscription
- the compulsory enlistment of people for military service.
- survivors
- people who remain alive after an event, especially a disaster or accident.
Comprehension check · B1
Finished reading? See how much stuck.
1.What is the main reason Rohingya asylum seekers leave Myanmar?
2.How long has it been since the boats left, without news?
3.What do reports suggest about the condition of the boats?
















































