The number of Rohingya refugees arriving in Indonesia by boat surged over 700% in October compared to the same period last year, according to Save the Children. The organization anticipates even more record-breaking numbers in the coming months as the end of monsoon season brings calmer seas and safer conditions for boat travel.

Data from the UNHCR reveal that at least 395 Rohingya refugees, including 173 children, landed in Indonesia in October, a stark increase from the 49 arrivals reported in October 2023. Three vessels carrying refugees arrived during the month, with the latest reaching Aceh on October 31, transporting 90 people, including seven children. Tragically, six individuals lost their lives during the journey, with their bodies discovered on the shore and floating in nearby waters.

The perilous sea routes taken by these refugees have claimed at least 221 lives or left individuals unaccounted for in 2024 alone. Since February 2022, nearly 985 people have died or gone missing on these treacherous journeys from Bangladesh or Myanmar.

A major driver of these dangerous voyages is the deteriorating security situation in Cox's Bazar refugee camps in Bangladesh. Rising violence, including kidnappings, abductions, and child recruitment by armed groups, has escalated fears among the refugees. Interviews conducted by Save the Children with parents and children earlier this year exposed their dire circumstances, with many expressing fears for their safety.

Conditions in Bangladesh's Rohingya camps have steadily worsened over the past seven years. Refugee children have gone without formal education, caregivers remain jobless, and the community as a whole is vulnerable to fires, flooding, landslides, and, increasingly, violent threats. Those attempting to escape by sea face additional dangers from traffickers and smugglers, who frequently operate overcrowded and poorly equipped vessels with insufficient food and water.

Currently, around 1,000 Rohingya refugees are residing in temporary shelters in Indonesia, still seeking permanent solutions. Save the Children is collaborating with the Geutanyoe Foundation in Aceh to enhance local support and awareness for Rohingya refugees in the region.

"This alarming rise in Rohingya refugees arriving in Indonesia in just one month should prompt an immediate response across the region," said Sultana Begum, Asia Head of Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy for Save the Children. "No child should endure such hazardous journeys. Regional governments must act swiftly to honor commitments to safe disembarkation, coordinated aid, and access to humanitarian support, as outlined in the Bali Declaration."

Begum urged for a unified, regional approach to address the crisis, stressing that the current refugee needs are more critical than ever. "The international community must amplify their assistance to meet the humanitarian and long-term needs of Rohingya refugees," she added.

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