Three Acehnese Fishermen Returned After The COVID-19 Quarantine

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

BANDA ACEH - As many as three Acehnese fishermen who had drowned in the waters of the Malacca Strait, Malaysia were returned to Aceh after undergoing 10 days of COVID-19 quarantine at Wisma Atlet Pademangan, Jakarta.

"They were sent home from Jakarta today, via Soekarno-Hatta Airport, leaving at around 11.55 WIB", said Head of the Aceh Government Liaison Agency (BPPA), Almuniza Kamal, quoted by Antara on Thursday, January 6.

The three Acehnese fishermen arrived in Indonesia on Saturday, December 25, 2021, but had to undergo a COVID-19 quarantine before being sent back to Aceh.

Almuniza said that the three fishermen had previously experienced the sinking of a boat in the waters of the Malacca Strait, on December 12, 2021, and were rescued by the crew of the Singapore-flagged MV Container Lion City.

The accident occurred when the fishermen were looking for fish. Then the boat used was hit by big waves so that it broke and sank.

"There were about 15 hours they were adrift in the ocean using gallons of water for buoys", he said.

After the container ship docked at Port Klang, Malaysia, the three fishermen were visited by the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur's Protection Task Force consisting of the Transportation Attaché and the Protection Consular Function to hold a meeting.

The three Acehnese fishermen are Prasetyo (24), Hendra Syah Putra (23) and Musliyadi (40). All three are from Kenangkung Hamlet, Muka Sungai Kuruk Village, Seruway District, Aceh Tamiang.

"In addition to quarantine, the three fishermen also received the vaccine until the second stage in Jakarta", said Almuniza.

On behalf of the Government of Aceh, Almuniza and the people of Aceh thanked the crew of the MV Lion City container ship, the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Port Health Office (KKP), Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) and other elements for helping rescue and taking care of the return of the fishermen.