Today, around 180 Rohingya refugees who fled from Bangladesh landed in Indonesia’s Northernmost province of Aceh. Officials have indicated that the group was composed of 94 men, 70 women, and 20 children.
East Aceh Police Chief, Andy Rahmansyah said in an interview, “From the information we received, the boat took them and told them that they have arrived at their destination and left them at the beach.” Further reports indicate that the refugees were told to swim to shore.
The group of 184 including women and children arrived by fishing boat at Kuala Matang Peulawi, a coastal area in the Peureulak subdistrict of East Aceh. The authorities are still collecting more information and giving medical aid to some of the refugees.
One of the refugees, Ali Hussein, said their boat left them in the dark near the beach. “It was difficult there. When we were gathered, we got offered a rate for the boat and we agreed to go to a far place, whether it is Indonesia or Malaysia,” Hussein added.
In 2022 it was reported that more than 500 Rohingya people have made it to Aceh.
