On Thursday, at least 146 Rohingya refugees landed in western Indonesia, signaling a rise in refugee arrivals as calmer sea conditions enable more voyages. The group arrived in Pantai Labu, North Sumatra, and included 64 men, 62 women, and 20 children, according to local official Muhammad Faisal Nasution. The Rohingya, a persecuted ethnic minority from Myanmar, often risk treacherous sea journeys hoping to reach safety in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.
Upon arrival, the refugees were transported to a temporary shelter where they received essential supplies. “Many of the refugees, especially the children, looked hungry and lacked proper clothing,” Nasution reported. Local residents provided food, including eggs and rice, and distributed clothes to the group.
UNHCR is now coordinating with local authorities to arrange the refugees’ relocation. Faisal Rahman, a protection associate with UNHCR Indonesia, stated that a team was on-site to assist.
Simultaneously, another vessel carrying over 100 Rohingya remains stationed about a mile from the southern coast of Aceh, bordering North Sumatra, where a rescue mission is anticipated soon.
Despite not being a signatory to the UN refugee convention, Indonesia has taken in numerous Rohingya arrivals, calling on neighboring nations to help resettle them. While many Acehnese are sympathetic to the Rohingya’s plight, others express concerns, citing limited resources and occasional tensions between locals and refugees.
