264 Rohingya Immigrants In East Aceh Relocated To Shelter

Immigrants from Rohingya at Seumilang Beach, Alue Bu Village, West Peureulak District, East Aceh Regency, Monday (6/1/2025) ANTARA/Hayaturrahmah.

BANDA ACEH - The National Unity and Political Agency of East Aceh Regency stated that 264 Rohingya ethnic immigrants who landed on the coast of Seumilang Beach, Alue Bu Village, Peureulak Barat District, were relocated to temporary shelters at Seuneubok Rawang Football Field, East Peureulak, East Aceh Regency.

Head of the Political, Government and Security Division of the National Unity and Political Agency of East Aceh Regency, Syamsul Bahri, said the illegal immigrants were relocated using five trucks.

"The Rohingya ethnic immigrants consisted of 117 men and 147 people. women. They landed on Sunday (5/1) at around 22.00 WIB. They were relocated to the Senebok Rawang Football Field, the temporary shelter location for Rohingya immigrants in East Aceh Regency," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, January 6.

Syamsul Bahri said the relocation process was under strict supervision from both the police, the East Aceh Satpol PP and related parties, namely the International Organization Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

"Relocation or relocation is to temporary shelter so that they are in one place with Rohingya immigrants who were previously in East Aceh," said Syamsul Bahri.

"In the temporary shelter location, there are also 137 other Rohingya immigrants who previously landed in Kuala Parek and Madat, East Aceh Regency," said Syamsul Bahri.

Meanwhile, Abdul Kudus, a Rohingya immigrant, said that before landing at Seumilang Beach, they had landed at Langkawai Beach, Malaysia. However, their presence was rejected by the neighboring country authorities.

"Our arrival was rejected. We were only given food and drink assistance. Then, we continued our journey until landing in East Aceh Regency," said Abdul Kudus.

Abdul Kudus explained that they had traveled for 15 days from Myanmar. After a dozen days of being adrift in the high seas using two motorboats, they ended up stranded on the coast of the western coast of Indonesia.

"Initially 274 people were on two ships. However, 10 people died for 15 days were adrift in the sea. So there were 264 people left until they finally landed on the coast," said Abdul Kudus.

East Aceh Police Chief AKBP Nova Suryandaru said the whereabouts of the Rohingya ethnic immigrants were initially known to M Tayeb Abu Bakar who was looking for fish, Sunday (5/1) at 22.00 WIB. The fishermen saw two motorboats riding a distance of about 200 meters from the shoreline. At that time, M Tayeb Abu Bakar had not seen in detail the people on the ship. Feeling suspicious, M Tayeb Abu Bakar contacted the West Peureulak Police.

"After a few moments, the two ships landed at Seumilang Beach and the passengers got off. After that, it was discovered that the passengers of the Rohingya immigrants ship were new," said Nova Suryandaru.