More than 100 Rohingya refugees rescued off Indonesia: UN

BANDA ACE: More than 100 Rohingya refugees, including women and children, have been rescued after their boat sank off the coast of Indonesia, the UN refugee agency said on Saturday (Nov 30).

Predominantly Muslim ethnic group Rohingya face brutal persecution in Myanmar and thousands of people risk their lives every year on long and dangerous sea journeys to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.

“We have received a report from the East Aceh government that there are a total of 116 refugees here,” UNHCR spokesman Faisal Rahman told AFP on Saturday.

“The refugees are still on the beach now, it has not yet been decided where they will be taken.”

He said the flimsy wooden boat carrying the Rohingya was found half-submerged off a beach off the coast of the northeastern island of Sumatra.

Local fisherman Saifudin Taher said the boat was first spotted in East Aceh waters on Saturday morning and nearly sank hours later.

“All the passengers survived, but one of them was sick and… immediately received medical attention,” Saifudin told AFP, adding that the boat was only 100 meters from the beach and the refugees could easily walk to safety.