UNHCR Asks Indonesia to Allow Rohingya Refugees Boat to Dock

TheIndonesia.id - The United Nations Agency for Refugees Affairs (UNHCR) has called on the Indonesian government to allow ships carrying Rohingya refugees in the waters of Bireuen, Aceh, to dock since they were first seen on Sunday, December 26, 2021.

In a written statement from the UNHCR office in Indonesia on Wednesday, December 29, the UN agency expressed concern over the safety of the refugees on board, following reports and photos from local fishermen showing that the majority of the ship's passengers were women and children, while the condition of the ship very dense and unable to sail.

“UNHCR is very concerned about the safety and lives of the refugees on board. To prevent loss of life, UNHCR urges the Government of Indonesia to immediately allow the ship to dock safely," said UNHCR.

They said that Indonesia had been a role model for other countries in the region over the years in protecting refugees. “UNHCR hopes to see the same humanitarian spirit again today in Aceh. The Rohingya have fled violence, persecution, and forced displacement for decades. For those seeking international protection, permission to dock safely and access to asylum and humanitarian procedures must be granted," UNHCR said.

They referred to the Indonesian government's efforts to rescue Rohingya refugees in East Aceh water in 2018, 2020, and June 2021. In addition to the condition of the ship being unable to sail and crowded with passengers, UNHCR also cited reports from local fishermen that the ship had a leak and an engine failure so that it was adrift in the open sea in the midst of bad weather and could be at risk of sinking.

UNHCR staff are already on the ground and are coordinating with local governments and other humanitarian partners. "We are ready to assist the government and local communities in providing emergency life-saving assistance to these groups," said UNHCR.