Over 70 Rohingya refugees land in Indonesia’s Aceh

PEREULAK: More than 70 Rohingya came ashore in Indonesia’s Aceh province, an official said on Thursday, the latest wave of Rohingyas who often faced rejection from Indonesia’s regional communities.

A wooden boat carrying 40 men, 32 women, and four children landed in Pereulak region in East Aceh on Wednesday, Nova Suryandaru, the head of regional police, told Reuters.

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The boat had arrived at the beach in the afternoon but the Rohingya’s attempts to land were rejected by residents. They were finally allowed to land at around 8 pm local time.

“The boat was deliberately damaged by them (Rohingya)… So, we negotiated with the residents, explaining that it’s impossible for the boat to sail again,” said Nova, adding that they have been evacuated to temporary shelters.

For years Rohingya have been leaving Myanmar, where they are generally regarded as foreign interlopers from South Asia, denied citizenship and subjected to abuse. More than 200 Rohingya landed in East Aceh early this month.

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UNHCR data showed that more than 2,000 Rohingya arrived in Indonesia in 2023, more than the combined total of arrivals in the previous four years.