Recently, The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has requested Rohingya refugees in Aceh not to run away from the shelter to avoid the risk of human trafficking.
Muhammad Yanuar Farhanditya, Senior Communications Assistant, UNHCR Indonesia, delivered in a statement that, 12 Rohingya refugees who ran away from the Aceh Social Affairs Office in Ladong have been returned to the office. They were caught as they were about to leave for Medan, North Sumatra.
He also added that, his administration will consistently work with the local authorities to improve the security of shelters to prevent refugees from fleeing.
“Moreover, we are also providing education on the risk of human trafficking and smuggling (that could happen to) refugees if they decide to continue their travel illegally,” he added.
Head of the Banda Aceh Police Department’s Criminal Unit, Fadhillah Aditya Pratama, said that among the people who were caught, one was allegedly an agent who was picking them up and one was a driver.
The agent has been identified as Mohhammed Alam Mohd Sharif, a Myanmar national. The Rohingya refugees who escaped were Abdul Manan, Mohammad Tareq, Mohammad Hamid, Mohammad Hubaib, Siddek Ahmed, Mohammad Siddiq, Ziyabullah, Rahmatullah, Abul Bosir, Ismail, Mukhtar Husain, and Abdullah.
