Around 200 Rohingya refugees arrived in Indonesia’s westernmost province by sea overnight, according to the United Nations refugee agency on Wednesday. This brings the total number of arrivals in the past week to over 1,000 from the persecuted Myanmar minority. Rohingya, mostly Muslim, face severe persecution in Myanmar, prompting many to embark on perilous sea journeys, often in flimsy boats, to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.
While the mayor reported 200 arrivals, local estimates suggested the number could be higher, reaching up to 360 refugees landing in Aceh Province. Last week, locals in Aceh turned away several boat arrivals from Bangladesh, citing resource constraints. The latest images and footage indicate the new arrivals sitting on a beach in Aceh’s Sabang, awaiting shelter.
The UNHCR team is working to reach the site quickly to ensure the refugees receive necessary treatment. The agency has appealed to Sabang Mayor Reza Fahlevi to find safe shelter for the arrivals. However, concerns have been raised about the local community potentially pushing the refugees back to the sea, as a rejection sentiment appears to have spread among the people in the area.