Dozens of Rohingya Immigrant Children Stranded on the Seulimeum Beach Aceh

Rohingya refugees when stranded in the Lampanah Leugah coastal area of Aceh Besar, Thursday (16/2/2023 (ANTARA)

BANDA ACEH - Dozens of children from 62 Rohingya immigrants were again stranded in the Mukim Lampanah Leugah Beach area, Seulimeum District, Aceh Besar District.

"As many as 62 Rohingya landed in Lampanah Aceh Besar at around 09.15 WIB", said Secretary of Panglima Laot (sea) Aceh Miftach Tjut Adek, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday.

The 62 Rohingya immigrants consisted of 21 adult women, 23 adult men and 18 children.

Miftach said that it was strongly suspected that the Rohingya immigrants were those who had been monitored by fishermen since the beginning of last month in Aceh waters. "Probably yes (which was previously monitored by Acehnese fishermen)", he said.

Previously, a ship that was strongly suspected of transporting immigrants from the country Myanmar and the Rohingya ethnicity was again observed in the territorial waters of Peudada, Bireuen, and Aceh.

Meanwhile, Associate External Relations of UNHCR Indonesia Mitra Salima also confirmed that there were immigrants who were strongly suspected of being Rohingya stranded in the Lampanah area of Aceh Besar.

"We have received news that someone is stranded, but it is not certain whether it is true from the Rohingya, now our team is on the ground", said Mitra Salima.

For information, Panglima Laot is an Acehnese maritime customary institution that oversees fishermen in Aceh. All issues related to the sea in Aceh are inseparable from the authority of this institution.

The existence of Panglima Laot Institution in Aceh, according to history, has existed since 400 years ago, to be precise during the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda (1607-1636) who ruled the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam.