At least 2,000 migrants, including women and children, have been trapped for more than 40 days on boats off Myanmar and are at risk of violence and food shortages, the UN refugee agency said Tuesday.

They have been "stranded on at least five boats near the Myanmar-Bangladesh coasts for more than 40 days," United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spokeswoman Vivian Tan told AFP, adding there have been reports of "food shortages, dehydration and violence on board".