249 Rohingya Immigrants Escape From The Vocational Training Center In Aceh

Rohingya Refugees in Aceh (Photo: Rahmad / Antara)

JAKARTA - As many as 249 Rohingya immigrants who were accommodated at the Meunasah Mee Kandang Village Training Center (BLK), Muara Dua District, Lhokseumawe, Aceh, fled.

The general information officer of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Mitra Suryono, said that the refugees had been in BLK since mid-June 2020. Teams in the field are still counting the number of Rohingya refugees on a regular basis.

"Our team in the field counts regularly and lastly was on January 8. At that time, there were 103 Rohingya refugees," he said as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, January 12.

Previously, 99 Rohingya immigrants from Myanmar landed on Lancok Beach, Lhokseumawe, on June 25, 2020. Then, on September 27, 2020, 297 Rohingya immigrants landed on Ujong Blang Beach, Lhokseumawe.

The total number of Rohingya immigrants is 396 and is accommodated at the BLK in Meunasah Mee Kandang Village, Muara Dua District, Lhokseumawe.

Then, the number of Rohingya immigrants rose to 352 after some of them fled the shelter. The Lhokseumawe City Government handed over the immigrants to UNHCR.

After handing over to UNHCR on 4 December 2020, 249 refugees at BLK Lhokseumawe fled, so that currently only 103 people remain.

He said Rohingya refugees are people who have left their country to escape persecution. They consist of children, women and men.

"Rohingya refugees are the most persecuted ethnic minority in the world. Many of them are trying to find a better future for themselves and their families," he said.

Suryono said the UNHCR team continued to strive to raise immigram awareness of the dangers and risks of human smuggling and trafficking activities.

"This effort is to prevent them from escaping from the shelter. In addition, we also have a team of guards who handle security at the locations where the refugees live," he said.