UN refugee agency urges Indonesia to rescue stranded boat with over 100 Rohingya refugees
The United Nations refugee agency is urging Indonesia’s government to rescue a boat carrying over 100 Rohingya refugees, including women and children, stranded off the western coast of Aceh.
The refugees are fleeing persecution in Myanmar and risking their lives on treacherous sea journeys to reach Malaysia or Indonesia. The boat has been anchored about four miles off the coast, but a relief boat pulled it closer to shore on Monday.
The UNHCR is appealing for rescue at sea and safe disembarkation for this desperate group. Five Rohingya refugees were evacuated for medical treatment, and unfortunately, one refugee died on board.
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Negotiations between the UN and the Indonesian government are ongoing, but Indonesia has stated it cannot be compelled to take in refugees from Myanmar as it’s not a signatory to the UN refugee convention.
This isn’t the first time Rohingya refugees have arrived in Indonesia. Recall that UNHCR and IOM launched an emergency appeal in December 2023 to respond to refugee boat arrivals, requesting $5.4 million to support these vulnerable people.
The situation is complex, with some locals in Aceh sympathetic to the Rohingya’s plight, while others are concerned about resource scarcity and conflicts.
According to Human Rights Watch, Rohingya Muslims are still awaiting justice and protection of their rights five years after the Myanmar military began a sweeping campaign of massacres, rape, and arson in northern Rakhine State on August 25, 2017. More than 730,000 Rohingya fled to precarious, flood-prone camps in Bangladesh, while about 600,000 remain under oppressive rule in Myanmar.
No one has been held accountable for the crimes against humanity and acts of genocide committed against the Rohingya population.
