The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Tuesday commended local authorities in Indonesia for securing the rescue and disembarkation of more than 180 Rohingya migrants over the past two days.
«We welcome this act of humanity by local communities and authorities in Indonesia,» said UNHCR’s representative in Indonesia, Ann Maymann, in a statement, adding that these actions «help save lives in the face of certain death».
The regional police of Ace (Indonesia) reported Tuesday that at least 185 migrants – 85 men, 70 women and 32 children – arrived in Pidie and are temporarily housed in the district of Muara Tiga, in the north of the country.
«Indonesia has helped save 472 people over the past six weeks from four boats, showing its commitment and respect for basic humanitarian principles for people facing persecution and conflict,» UNHCR said.
Such arrivals to Indonesia of members of the Rohingya community, fleeing not only religious persecution in their home country of Burma, but also the horrific conditions in refugee camps in Bangladesh, are common.
UNHCR has also reported receiving reports, which it has not been able to confirm, that a boat with at least 180 migrants is adrift. «All passengers are presumed dead,» the UN agency has added.
According to figures provided by the High Commission in its latest statement, more than 2,000 people have crossed the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal this year in search of a better life, and nearly 200 have died in the attempt.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
