After floating in the sea for almost a month, a boat carrying more than half a hundred hungry and weak Rohingyas has arrived in the Aceh province of Indonesia, according to the country’s officials.
Local police chief Rolly Yuiza said a group of 58 people arrived at Indrapatra beach in the fishing village of Ladong in Aceh Besar district early Sunday morning.
He said the villagers informed the authorities about the arrival of the Rohingyas. They helped the Rohingyas off the wrecked boat.
Roli Yuiza said that the Rohingyas who floated in the boat seemed very hungry.
They were suffering from dehydration. Many people have become sick after floating in the sea for a long time.
The villagers helped these Rohingya with food, water and essentials. They are awaiting further instructions from immigration.
At least three people have been taken to a local clinic, he said. Many of them are being treated.
Last Friday, the United Nations said 190 Rohingya refugees were floating in a small boat in the Andaman Sea.
The United Nations called on South Asian countries to rescue them. The UN refugee agency UNHCR said in a statement that the boat was carrying many women and children.
20 people are said to have died on the boat.
According to UNHCR, approximately 1,920 Rohingya left Myanmar and Bangladesh by sea between January and November last year.
In 2021, this number was only 287 people.