A group of 116 Rohingya refugees, fleeing persecution in Myanmar, were rescued off the coast of Indonesia’s northeastern Sumatra island after their wooden boat was found half-submerged near the beach, according to the United Nations refugee agency and local officials.

"We received a report from the East Aceh government that there are 116 refugees in total," said Faisal Rahman of UNHCR, speaking to AFP. "The refugees are still on the beach right now, it has not been decided where they would be taken."

Local fisherman Saifudin Taher recounted spotting the boat entering East Aceh waters on Saturday morning. Hours later, the vessel, described as flimsy, nearly sank.

"All passengers survived, but one of them was ill and ...immediately received treatment," Saifudin told AFP. He added that the boat was just 100 meters from the shore, enabling the refugees to walk to safety.

The Rohingya, a mostly Muslim ethnic minority group, face severe persecution in Myanmar, prompting thousands to embark on perilous sea journeys annually to reach countries like Malaysia or Indonesia.

Rohingya arrivals in Indonesia typically increase during calmer sea conditions, slowing during stormy months. Last month, 152 Rohingya refugees were allowed to disembark after being anchored off South Aceh district for days while authorities deliberated their fate.

Although Indonesia is not a signatory to the UN refugee convention and maintains it cannot be compelled to accept refugees, it has repeatedly called on neighboring countries to share the burden and resettle Rohingya arrivals.

Many residents of Aceh, drawing on their own experiences of conflict, express sympathy for the refugees. However, patience has waned among some locals who claim the Rohingya strain limited resources and occasionally clash with the community.

Tensions were highlighted in December 2023 when hundreds of students stormed a community hall in Aceh where over 100 Rohingya refugees were sheltering, vandalizing their belongings and forcing their relocation.

BOB Post