ACEH, RAKYAT NEWS – A group of 76 Rohingya refugees was stranded once again in East Aceh Regency on Wednesday (Jan 29) afternoon. Traveling in a wooden boat, their arrival adds to the growing number of Rohingya refugees who have landed in Aceh, bringing the total to 337 since the beginning of this month.

Syamsul Bahri, an official from the East Aceh local government, stated that the group consisted of 40 men, 32 women, and four toddlers. They reached Kuala Leuge Beach in Peureulak District at around 1:00 PM local time.

For the time being, the refugees have been placed in a temporary shelter at the football field in Seuneubok Rawang Village, East Peureulak District. Authorities are still deciding on further actions regarding their stay.

Munzir, the head of Leuge Village, mentioned that residents spotted the refugee boat in the Malacca Strait at around 11:00 AM local time. Initially, the villagers were hesitant to let them disembark, awaiting a decision from the government and relevant authorities.

“We provided them with food and water, but we waited for official instructions before allowing them to come ashore,” Munzir told reporters at the scene.

Nasruddin, a spokesperson for the Geutanyoe Foundation—a local organization assisting Rohingya refugees in Aceh—stated that before being allowed to land, some residents guarded the boat, and there were even attempts to push it back to sea. Eventually, security forces intervened.

The Indonesian military (TNI) and police were seen securing the area around the beach to maintain order. This incident marks yet another instance of Rohingya refugees seeking safety in Aceh after fleeing persecution in Myanmar.

Earlier this month, on January 5, another group of 264 Rohingya refugees arrived in East Aceh after being denied entry into Malaysian waters. Reports indicate that 20 of those refugees have since escaped from the shelter, likely attempting to continue their journey to Malaysia.

Currently, 379 Rohingya refugees remain in East Aceh, out of a total of 610 who have arrived in multiple waves since early 2024. The situation continues to be a pressing concern for local authorities and humanitarian organizations. (Uki Ruknuddin)

 

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