9 Rohingya Immigrants In East Aceh Escape From Shelter

Immigrants of the Rohingya ethnic group are in a temporary shelter in Seunebok Rawang Village, Pereulak District, East Aceh Regency. BETWEEN ANTARA/Hayaturrahmah

BANDA ACEH - The National Unity and Political Agency of East Aceh Regency stated that as many as nine Rohingya immigrants who were accommodated in temporary shelters on the football field of Seunebok Rawang Village, East Peureulak District, East Aceh, fled.

Head of the Political, Government and Security Division of the National Unity and Political Agency of East Aceh Regency, Syamsul Bahri, said the Rohingya immigrants had fled separately in the past week.

"There are nine Rohingya immigrants who fled from the temporary shelter in the football field of Seunebok Rawang Village. The nine immigrants are known not to be in the shelter when checking," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, December 10.

Four of the nine immigrants who escaped from the temporary shelter were known to have landed in Madat, East Aceh, on October 30, 2024. The rest were stranded in Bireuem Bayeun, East Aceh Regency, on November 30, 2024.

Syamsul Bahri said that by fleeing the nine Rhingya ethnic immigrants, currently there are 155 people left in the temporary shelter in the soccer field. Of the 155 immigrants, 150 of them are adults and five babies.

According to him, the temporary shelter does not deserve to accommodate Rohingya immigrants because the place is open, so it is easy for them to escape. In addition, rainy weather is also feared to interfere with health, especially babies.

"We hope that the UN UN UNHCR agency that handles Rohingya immigrants will immediately relocate the 155 people to a more appropriate place," said Syamsul Bahri.

Previously, 346 Rohingya immigrants landed in a number of areas in East Aceh Regency in early February 2024, as well as late October and November 2024.

Of the 346 Rohingya immigrants who landed, only 155 were left in the shelter. While the others fled the shelter and 10 others were transferred to Makassar, South Sulawesi, and shelters in Pidie Regency.