JAKARTA: A boat carrying over 100 Rohingya refugees and a fishing vessel trying to help them capsized in waters off Indonesia on Wednesday, with six refugees rescued and some carried away by currents, local fishermen said.
The Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic group heavily persecuted in Myanmar, frequently embark on perilous sea journeys in overcrowded and fragile boats, risking their lives to seek refuge in neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia.
Nanda Ferdiansyah, representing the West Aceh traditional fishing community, recounted receiving distressing reports from fishermen in the region regarding the capsizing of a Rohingya boat off Kuala Bubon beach. Attempts by local fishermen to rescue the refugees proved treacherous, as the vessel became overloaded and subsequently sank.
Pawang Amiruddin, the secretary-general of the regency’s fishing community, confirmed that six survivors, comprising four women and two men, had been rescued, but the fate of others remains uncertain. The refugees, originating from Myanmar, disclosed their failed attempts to reach Thailand before seeking refuge in Indonesia’s Aceh province after facing rejection.
Meanwhile, the United Nations refugee agency expressed deep concern, emphasizing the urgent need for rescue efforts to be swiftly initiated to save the “tens of Rohingya refugees” in distress. However, precise numbers of those onboard and their current status remain unconfirmed.
