BANDA ACEH: Approximately 200 Rohingya refugees, including women and children, arrived in Indonesia’s westernmost province on Tuesday, marking the largest group of the persecuted Myanmar minority to land in months.
Many Rohingya, mostly Muslims, undertake perilous sea journeys annually in fragile boats, seeking to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.
The group of 196 individuals landed in a remote area of Aceh Province’s Pidie region on Tuesday morning, as reported by local navy commander Andi Susanto. Some of the newcomers promptly fled inland, with conflicting reports suggesting differing numbers.
According to Marfian, a spokesperson for the local fishing community, around ten immediately sought refuge in the nearby hills, indicating they might be middlemen intentionally bringing refugees to the area.
Local authorities and residents were providing assistance to the refugees. Marfian mentioned the community’s customary practice of offering food and drink to stranded Rohingyas.
The UN refugee agency reported that more than 2,000 Rohingya are believed to have attempted the perilous journey to Southeast Asian countries in 2022.
The agency estimated that nearly 200 Rohingya lost their lives or went missing last year while undertaking hazardous sea crossings.
In March, another group of 184 Rohingya refugees arrived in the eastern Aceh town of Peureulak after being dropped at sea and forced to swim ashore.
