BANDA ACEH: More than 100 Rohingya refugees including women and children were rescued after their boat sank off the coast of Indonesia, the United Nations refugee agency said on Saturday.

The mostly Muslim ethnic Rohingya are heavily persecuted in Myanmar and thousands risk their lives each year on long and dangerous sea journeys to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.

“We received a report from the East Aceh government that there are 116 refugees in total,” UNHCR’s Faisal Rahman said on Saturday.

“The refugees are still on the beach right now, it has not been decided where they would be taken.” He said the flimsy wooden boat carrying the Rohingyas was found half-submerged not far from the beach off the coast of northeastern Sumatra island.

A local fisherman, Saifudin Taher said the boat was first spotted entering East Aceh waters on Saturday morning, and a few hours later it nearly sank. “All passengers survived, but one of them was ill and ...immediately received treatment,” Saifudin said, adding the boat was only 100 metres away from the beach, and the refugees could walk easily to safety.

Rohingya arrivals in Indonesia tend to follow a cyclical pattern, slowing during the stormy months and picking back up when sea conditions calm down. Last month, 152 Rohingya refugees were finally brought ashore after being anchored for days off the coast of South Aceh district for days while officials decided whether to let them land.

Indonesia is not a signatory to the UN refugee convention and says it cannot be compelled to take in refugees from Myanmar, calling instead on neighbouring countries to share the burden and resettle Rohingya who arrives on its shores.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2024