An Indonesian search and rescue ship successfully saved dozens of Rohingya refugees from a capsized wooden boat off the coast of Aceh yesterday, highlighting the dangers of ocean journeys from Bangladesh.
As per a report, 59 individuals were rescued by the search and rescue ship yesterday afternoon, with an additional 10 being picked up by local fishing boats.
A rescue officer confirmed that all 69 individuals were evacuated safely without any casualties reported. Furthermore, six more Rohingya were rescued by private fishing boats before the official rescue mission arrived, bringing the total number of rescued individuals to 75.
One survivor, a 17-year-old, mentioned that the group had departed from the Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, where a large number of Rohingya have been living since the violent expulsion campaign by the Myanmar military in 2017.
The boat started to experience difficulties three days before it capsized on Wednesday. An official search and rescue team was dispatched from Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh, on Wednesday evening.
Upon locating the boat yesterday, the refugees were found perched on its hull, in urgent need of assistance. Men, women, and children, exhausted and drenched from the rain, were emotional as the rescue operation began and they were transferred to safety.
Boats have been departing from Bangladesh and Rakhine State in Myanmar for over a decade, with numbers increasing significantly after the 2017 military operation that displaced over 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh. Many are seeking refuge in other parts of Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia, despite facing challenges in both countries.
