Over 260 Rohingya refugees arrive in Indonesia
Indonesian official says refugees will move to camp in Peureulak Timur district in East Aceh
ANKARA
Over 260 Rohingya refugees, including women and children, have arrived in Indonesia's easternmost province of Aceh, local media reported on Monday.
Some 264 Rohingya refugees in two boats which were stranded in the sea, arrived in East Aceh, according to Aceh Online.
Local police chief Surya Dharma said that information about the two boats were obtained from fishermen that they saw two ships carrying them.
Dharma said these people would move to the Rohingya refugees camp in the Peureulak Timur district in East Aceh.
In November last year, Indonesian fishermen rescued 116 Rohingya refugees, mostly women and children, after their boat sank off the coast of Aceh.
On Friday, Malaysian authorities detained 196 Rohingya refugees after their boat ran aground near Teluk Yu beach on the northeastern resort island of Langkawi.
On Saturday, Malaysian authorities turned away two boats carrying around 300 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.
Hundreds of Rohingya have fled their home country of Myanmar due to persecution by the junta regime, as well as other ethnic armed groups. Indonesia, besides Bangladesh, has been one of their main destinations as they flee the persecution via sea.
*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid
Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.