Over 100 Rohingya Muslim refugees rescued after boat sinks off Indonesia coast

More than 100 Rohingya refugees, including women and children, were rescued after their wooden boat sank near Indonesia’s northeastern Sumatra coast, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) reported on Saturday.

Faisal Rahman, a spokesperson for UNHCR, confirmed that 116 refugees were found on the beach in East Aceh. The vessel, described as fragile, was discovered half-submerged not far from the shoreline.

A local fisherman Saifudin Taher recounted the incident, noting that the boat was first spotted entering East Aceh waters early Saturday morning before nearly sinking hours later. Fortunately, all passengers survived, although one required immediate medical attention.

Rohingya refugees, a persecuted Muslim ethnic minority in Myanmar, often embark on perilous sea journeys to reach Malaysia or Indonesia. Their arrivals in Indonesia typically rise during calmer sea conditions.

Indonesia, while not a signatory to the UN refugee convention, has urged neighboring countries to share the burden of resettling Rohingya refugees.

Many Acehnese locals, drawing on their own history of conflict, empathize with the refugees, but some express frustration, citing limited resources and occasional tensions.

In December 2023, tensions escalated when students stormed a community hall sheltering over 100 Rohingya refugees, forcing their relocation and damaging their belongings.