UNHCR Prepares Assistance For Rohingya Refugees Whose Ship Is Overturned In Meulaboh

Dozens of Rohingya ethnic immigrants were on board a shipwreck in the waters of the Meulaboh Sea, West Aceh, Aceh, Thursday (21/3/2024). (ANTARA PHOTO/Syifa Yulinnas)

BANDA ACEH - UNHCR and IOM are ready to assist the West Aceh Government by mobilizing assistance related to the arrival of dozens of Rohingya refugees in the local district, currently the UN refugee agency team is already at the location.

"The UNHCR and IOM teams have been deployed to West Aceh and are ready to assist the local government by providing assistance to the victims of this tragic incident after they got off the ship (Rohingya residents)," said UNHCR Indonesia spokesman Mitra Salima Suryono as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, March 22.

The assistance provided is in the form of basic needs such as food, clothing, health, clean water and so on.

Previously, dozens of Rohingya refugees were reported to have had an accident in the waters of Meulaboh, West Aceh Regency after the ship they were traveling in was allegedly overturned in local waters, Wednesday (20/3).

Then, the Banda Aceh Basarnas evacuated the refugees from the middle of the sea, and currently 75 Rohingya residents have been accommodated by the West Aceh Government, placed in the PMI building.

UNHCR and IOM admitted that they were very concerned about the potential loss of life in the middle of the sea, because the surviving refugees said that the ship actually carried 151 people, and 75 were known to be safe.

"If that is true, then this will be the biggest incident with casualties so far this year. It has occurred amid the increasing arrival of Rohingya refugee ships in Indonesia," he said.

Mitra kembali menegaskan UNHCR dan IOM terus memperkuat pemberian bantuan kemanusiaan dan perlindungan darurat kepada pengungsi yang tiba di Indonesia.

These two agencies work closely with government agencies, NGO partners, and local communities to provide a safe environment for refugees and facilitate access to essential services.

"Regarding the provision of health services (including mental health support), improvement of temporary shelters, ensuring access to clean water, food, sanitation, and waste management," he said.