20-3-2024 (JAKARTA) A frantic rescue operation was underway on Wednesday as Indonesian fishermen raced to save dozens of Rohingya refugees after their boat capsized in turbulent waters off Aceh province. The ordeal unfolded amidst a surge of persecuted Rohingya fleeing to Indonesia from Myanmar over the past year.
Miftach Tjut Adek, chief of the local fishing community, revealed that more than 50 Rohingya were clinging to the upturned hull near Meulaboh city in West Aceh after their vessel succumbed to high tides. “We fishermen are duty-bound to assist them,” he told Reuters, describing how the rescuers battled adverse weather to bring the stranded individuals to safety.
While the precise number of Rohingya in distress and their intended destination remained unclear, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated around 2,000 members of the persecuted Muslim minority have reached Indonesian shores since October 2022. Aceh has emerged as a primary entry point for the recent influx of Rohingya refugees into Southeast Asia.
Nelayan Aceh tolong satu boat Rohingya yang tenggelam sekitar 7 mil dari Kuala Bubon Aceh Barat Rabu 20 Maret 2024 @Refugees pic.twitter.com/Bk1AjwnDuu
— Aceh ???????????????????????? (@Aceh) March 20, 2024
The UNHCR voiced “deep concern” over the unfolding situation in Meulaboh, deeming it an emergency requiring collaborative lifesaving efforts with local authorities and communities. “Our priority must be to unite in rescuing lives,” the agency urged, unable to immediately confirm potential casualties among the group.
No statement was forthcoming from the West Aceh regional government at the time of reporting.
For years, the Rohingya have fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where they are viewed as illegal immigrants from South Asia and subjected to widespread discrimination and abuse. Deprived of citizenship, the ethnic minority undertakes perilous maritime journeys each year during the November-April sailing season, seeking refuge in neighbouring Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia.
According to UNHCR data released in January, at least 569 Rohingya perished or went missing in 2023 while attempting to escape Myanmar or Bangladesh – the highest toll since 2014.
