Dozens Of Rohingya Immigrants In Lhokseumawe Undergo Second Dose Of Vaccination

BANDA ACEH - The Task Force for Handling Rohingya Refugees stated that dozens of illegal immigrants who were accommodated in the refugee camp at the Work Training Center (BLK) of Lhokseumawe City, Aceh participated in the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine vaccination.

Spokesperson for the Task Force for Handling Rohingya Refugees in Lhokseumawe City, Marzuki, said the vaccination was facilitated by the Organization International for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Lhokseumawe City Health Office.

"Rohingya immigrants who took part in the vaccination were 32 of the remaining 41 people and were accommodated in a temporary shelter camp at BLK Lhokseumawe," said Marzuki, quoted by Antara, Friday, February 18.

During the first dose of vaccination, said Marzuki, 93 Rohingya immigrants were vaccinated. However, now there are 41 people left because other immigrants fled or fled the camp.

Previously, 105 Rohingya immigrants were landed and accommodated at BLK Lhokseumawe on December 31, 2021 after they were adrift on a motor boat in the waters of the Malacca Strait.

Of the 105 immigrants, 67 of them fled from the shelter camp. Then, four immigrants who were previously accommodated outside Aceh, joined them.

Marzuki said the fleeing Rohingya immigrants were predominantly women. The immigrants who fled the average age of adolescence to adulthood.

"They fled by taking advantage of the carelessness of the guard when it was raining and the lights went out. They fled by destroying the back fence of the Lhokseumawe BLK," said Marzuki.

Marzuki urged the United Nations agency dealing with transnational refugees, UNHCR, to immediately transfer the refugees to Medan City, North Sumatra, to avoid increasing immigrants fleeing.

"The Lhokseumawe City Government basically accepts the refugees. However, it would be better if these Rohingya refugees were immediately transferred to permanent shelters in Medan," said Marzuki.

Meanwhile, the Dansatgas for Handling Overseas Refugees (PPLN) Lhokseumawe Muslim asked UNHCR and IOM to provide understanding to Rohingya immigrants not to be influenced by the persuasion of syndicates committing the crime of trafficking in persons (TTPO).

"To these two international institutions, we ask to provide an understanding of the presence of Rohingya immigrants in Lhokseumawe BLK and to comply with Indonesian government regulations and local wisdom," said Muslim.