Nearly 100 Rohingya asylum seekers stranded off the coast of Indonesia were pulled to shore on Thursday by locals angered at the refusal of authorities to give them shelter over coronavirus fears.
Around 94 people from the persecuted Myanmar minority – including 30 children – were reportedly plucked from a wooden boat by fishermen this week before being intercepted by maritime officials from Sumatra island who pulled them closer to shore.
But due to the fear of coronavirus, officials in Lhokseumawe city on Sumatra’s northern coast refused to allow the group to land.
Angry locals took matters into their own hands by jumping into boats which they used to pull the asylum seekers to shore.
“It’s purely for humanitarian reasons,” said fisherman Aples Kuari. “We were sad seeing kids and pregnant women stranded at sea,” he added.
Earlier on Thursday, local police chief Eko Hartanto said they wanted to send the Rohingya back to sea rather than give them temporary shelter. But authorities appeared to soften that stance in the face of local protests.
The Rohingya group are now temporarily being put up in private residences and would be checked by medical staff to ensure they were virus-free.
“Today’s disembarkation of Rohingya refugees is a moment of optimism and solidarity,” said Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid in a statement.
“It’s a credit to the community in Aceh who pushed hard and took risks so that these children, women and men could be brought to shore. They have shown the best of humanity,” he added.
Indonesia and neighbouring Malaysia are favoured destinations for Muslim Rohingya fleeing persecution and violence in mostly Buddhist Myanmar, with thousands trying a perilous escape via smugglers across the sea every year.
Muslim-majority Indonesia has previously allowed Rohingya refugees to land and allowed many to stay.
But their plight has been compounded in recent months as officials have turned them away over concern they could be harbouring the deadly coronavirus.
On Wednesday, a coastguard official in Malaysia said dozens of Rohingya were believed to have died during a four-month boat journey to Indonesia.
There had been more than 300 people on board the boat which was intercepted by authorities earlier this month, with 269 survivors given temporary shelter.
“Some of them died at sea. They were thrown overboard,” Zubil told reporters, without specifying the exact number.
Authorities have not found the original boat, thought to be now carrying around 500 people.
Authorities have yet to confirm if the group who landed off Indonesia’s coast belonged to that larger group.
Nearly 100 Rohingya asylum seekers stranded off the coast of Indonesia were pulled to shore on Thursday by locals angered at the refusal of authorities to give them shelter over coronavirus fears.
Around 94 people from the persecuted Myanmar minority – including 30 children – were reportedly plucked from a wooden boat by fishermen this week before being intercepted by maritime officials from Sumatra island who pulled them closer to shore.
But due to the fear of coronavirus, officials in Lhokseumawe city on Sumatra’s northern coast refused to allow the group to land.
Angry locals took matters into their own hands by jumping into boats which they used to pull the asylum seekers to shore.
“It’s purely for humanitarian reasons,” said fisherman Aples Kuari. “We were sad seeing kids and pregnant women stranded at sea,” he added.
Earlier on Thursday, local police chief Eko Hartanto said they wanted to send the Rohingya back to sea rather than give them temporary shelter. But authorities appeared to soften that stance in the face of local protests.
The Rohingya group are now temporarily being put up in private residences and would be checked by medical staff to ensure they were virus-free.
“Today’s disembarkation of Rohingya refugees is a moment of optimism and solidarity,” said Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid in a statement.
“It’s a credit to the community in Aceh who pushed hard and took risks so that these children, women and men could be brought to shore. They have shown the best of humanity,” he added.
Indonesia and neighbouring Malaysia are favoured destinations for Muslim Rohingya fleeing persecution and violence in mostly Buddhist Myanmar, with thousands trying a perilous escape via smugglers across the sea every year.
Muslim-majority Indonesia has previously allowed Rohingya refugees to land and allowed many to stay.
But their plight has been compounded in recent months as officials have turned them away over concern they could be harbouring the deadly coronavirus.
On Wednesday, a coastguard official in Malaysia said dozens of Rohingya were believed to have died during a four-month boat journey to Indonesia.
There had been more than 300 people on board the boat which was intercepted by authorities earlier this month, with 269 survivors given temporary shelter.
“Some of them died at sea. They were thrown overboard,” Zubil told reporters, without specifying the exact number.
Authorities have not found the original boat, thought to be now carrying around 500 people.
Authorities have yet to confirm if the group who landed off Indonesia’s coast belonged to that larger group.
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