More than 200 Rohingya refugees arrived by boat in Indonesia’s Aceh Province over the weekend, local officials said on Monday, amid a growing number of maritime arrivals by the stateless population in Southeast Asia.
The Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group originally from Myanmar, are considered the world’s largest stateless population. Many flee dire conditions in refugee camps in search of better opportunities, often embarking on perilous journeys across the Andaman Sea to Indonesia, Malaysia, or Thailand between October and April, when seas are calmer.
Muhammad Haekal, the head of intelligence and immigration in Langsa City, said two boats carrying Rohingya refugees landed late Sunday on Alue Bue Beach in the West Peureulak region of East Aceh on Sumatra island.
“Last night, around 11 p.m. local time, we received information from the foreigners monitoring team that two boats had landed with approximately 264 Rohingya on board,” Haekal said. “At 6 a.m. this morning, immigration officers arrived to monitor and record the arrivals.”
Haekal noted that authorities were still verifying the exact number of arrivals.
Indonesia has seen an increase in Rohingya arrivals in recent months as refugees continue to flee violence and poor living conditions in Myanmar or overcrowded camps in Bangladesh. The country is often seen as a transit point, with many refugees seeking to reach Malaysia or other destinations in search of safety and stability.
While Indonesia has shown a degree of openness toward accepting Rohingya refugees, the influx poses ongoing challenges for local authorities and humanitarian organizations working to provide shelter and assistance to those who arrive.
