Urgent action needed to save Rohingya refugees in distress at sea in Indonesia – Global issues
In a statement, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said they were “deeply concerned for the safety and lives of those on board”.
The boat was first seen in the waters off Bireuen, a district in Aceh province, on Sunday.
Prevent lost lives
Based on photos and reports from local fishermen, the passengers on the crowded boat were women and children.
The boat, which is believed to have a leak and engine failure, is at sea amid inclement weather and could be in danger of capsizing.
According to the news, local officials, supported by the police and navy, have provided food, medicine, a new boat engine and a technician to help with repairs. Rohingya manually, and will push it back into international waters once it is repaired.
To avoid loss of life, the agency called on the Indonesian government to allow the passengers to disembark safely and immediately.
Since August 2017, more than 700,000 Rohingya have fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar to camps in Bangladesh as the Myanmar military conducts a clearance operation in response to attacks by a militant group. Myanmar’s security forces have been accused of heinous crimes, including mass rapes and the burning of thousands of homes.
Humanitarian spirit
According to UNHCR, 2016 Presidential Regulation No. 125 on refugee protection includes provisions for the Government to rescue refugees in boats in distress near Indonesia and help them disembark.
These provisions were in place in 2018, 2020 and most recently last June, when 81 Rohingya refugees were rescued off the coast of East Aceh.
As for UNHCR, Indonesia has for many years set an example for other countries in the region in providing refugee protection services.
The agency hopes to see the same humanitarian spirit again.
“The Rohingya have faced violence, persecution and forced displacement for decades. All persons seeking international protection must be allowed safe harbor and granted access to asylum procedures and humanitarian aid,” the statement said.
Agency staff are currently on duty, working closely with local authorities to assist the Government and local communities in providing immediate life-saving assistance to the group.
UNHCR is also working with humanitarian partners in preparing a comprehensive response, including quarantine in accordance with international standards and public health protocols.
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