A boat carrying over 100 Rohingya refugees was spotted off Indonesia’s westernmost province, South Aceh district, with at least one dead body on board.
The Rohingya, mostly Muslim ethnic Rohingya, are heavily persecuted in Myanmar and risk their lives each year on dangerous sea journeys to reach Malaysia or Indonesia. The boat was first seen on Friday when a group of Rohingyas set off to deliver food and water to the refugees.
The day before the sighting, a Rohingya woman was found at sea. Local police chief Sabda Man Sobri confirmed she was a member of the ethnic group but could not comment on whether she was connected to the boat.
The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has been informed about the vessel and hoped the refugees would be rescued immediately. Locals are sympathetic to the Rohingya’s plight, but some locals have opposed their arrivals, accusing members of anti-social behavior.
In December 2023, hundreds of students forced the relocation of over a hundred Rohingya refugees, storming a function hall and kicking their belongings.
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