Hundreds of Rohingya refugees arrive by boat in Indonesia's Aceh province | DW News

Summary

Nearly 600 Rohingya refugees have landed in Indonesia's Aceh province, having fled persecution in Myanmar and overcrowded camps in Bangladesh. Traveling on perilous sea journeys in search of better opportunities, they are in urgent need of food, water, shelter, and medical help. The local community and international organizations are providing aid, but there are concerns about the refugees' integration and Indonesia's capacity to accommodate them, as the country is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention.

Takeaways

• 🚢 Nearly 600 Rohingya refugees have arrived in Indonesia's Aceh province, all by boat from Bangladesh.
• 🌍 Bangladesh is currently hosting up to a million Rohingya refugees in camps due to persecution in Myanmar.
• 🛳️ The refugees have undertaken dangerous sea journeys in search of better opportunities in Southeast Asian countries.
• 🏖️ Upon arrival in Indonesia, the refugees are in urgent need of food, water, shelter, and medical help.
• 👶 There are many babies and children among the refugees, highlighting the vulnerability of this group.
• 📅 One refugee mentioned starting their journey on October 26, indicating the recent nature of these arrivals.
• 🏚️ Local communities are providing aid, but there are concerns about suitable accommodation and potential incidents.
• 🚫 Some locals are rejecting the refugees, citing difficulties in assimilation and cultural differences.
• 🤝 International organizations like UNHCR are facilitating the refugees' arrival and providing assistance.
• 🏛️ Indonesia is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and feels it lacks the obligation to accommodate refugees long-term.
• 🔮 The situation suggests a need for regional cooperation among ASEAN countries to address the ongoing refugee crisis.

Q & A

How many Rohingya refugees have arrived in Indonesia's AE province recently?

Nearly 600 Rohingya refugees have arrived in Indonesia's AE province in the past week.

Where did the Rohingya refugees arrive from?

The refugees arrived by boat from Bangladesh.

Why did the Rohingya refugees flee Myanmar?

They fled persecution under the military crackdown in Myanmar.

What conditions are the Rohingya refugees escaping from in the camps in Bangladesh?

The refugees are escaping dangerous overcrowding and poor conditions in the camps in Bangladesh.

What is the current situation of the refugees upon arrival in Indonesia?

The refugees are in urgent need of food, water, shelter, and medical help upon their arrival in Indonesia.

What is the local community's reaction to the arrival of the refugees?

The local community is providing food for the refugees, but they are concerned about the lack of suitable accommodation and the potential for undesirable incidents.

How long was the sea journey for the refugees?

The refugees were at sea for about 14 days, as mentioned by one of the refugees.

What is the condition of the boats that the refugees used for their journey?

The boats were rickety and decrepit wooden boats, putting the lives of the refugees in danger.

What is the current stance of Indonesia regarding the Rohingya refugees?

Indonesia is not part of the UN Refugee convention and has not ratified it, feeling that they do not have an obligation to take in refugees or provide a long-term solution for them.

How are the refugees being facilitated upon their arrival?

The UNHCR and International Organization for Migration are facilitating the refugees upon their arrival, providing immediate medical assistance and food.

What is the future plan for handling the Rohingya refugees in Indonesia and other ASEAN countries?

There have been meetings and sessions discussing the refugee situation not just in Indonesia but also with ASEAN countries, as the refugees are also trying to go to Malaysia and Thailand.

Outlines

00:00

🚢 Rohingya Refugees Arrive in Indonesia

Nearly 600 Rohingya refugees have reached Indonesia's Aceh province by boat from Bangladesh, where they were hosted in camps after fleeing persecution in Myanmar. The perilous sea journey was undertaken to escape overcrowded camps and in search of better opportunities in Southeast Asian countries. Upon arrival, they were in urgent need of food, water, shelter, and medical help. The local community and organizations like UNHCR are providing aid, but there are concerns about the lack of suitable accommodation and potential issues due to the refugees' unfamiliarity with local norms. The Indonesian government is aware of the situation but has not ratified the UN Refugee Convention, indicating a lack of obligation to provide long-term solutions for the refugees.

05:03

🌐 Local Reactions and Indonesia's Refugee Policy

The second paragraph delves into the experiences of a Rohingya refugee mother and her children who survived a 14-day sea journey with limited food and water, highlighting their hope for safety and a better future. Local reactions to the refugees are mixed; some communities, like in Beran, have rejected the Rohingya, fearing they cannot assimilate and will disrupt long-standing cultural norms. Indonesia's stance on the refugee issue is further complicated by its non-ratification of the UN Refugee Convention, which leaves it without a legal obligation to accommodate refugees. The country is engaged in discussions with ASEAN nations, as the refugees also aim to reach Malaysia and Thailand, indicating that a regional approach may be necessary to address the ongoing arrivals and the uncertain future of the Rohingya refugees.

Keywords

💡Rohingya refugees

Rohingya refugees are individuals who have fled their home country, Myanmar, due to persecution and violence, particularly from the military. They are a minority Muslim group who have faced systemic discrimination and are not recognized as citizens in Myanmar. In the video, nearly 600 Rohingya refugees have arrived in Indonesia's Aceh province, highlighting the ongoing refugee crisis and their desperate search for safety.

💡Indonesia's Aceh province

Aceh is a province of Indonesia located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. It is significant in this context as it has become a landing point for Rohingya refugees who have made perilous journeys by boat from Bangladesh. The script mentions that these refugees have arrived in Aceh, emphasizing the geographical aspect of the refugee crisis and the role of this province as a destination for those seeking asylum.

💡Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a South Asian country that borders Myanmar to the east. It has become a host to a large number of Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar due to persecution. The script notes that the refugees arrived in Indonesia from Bangladesh, indicating the country's role as a temporary shelter for these displaced people before they embark on further journeys in search of better opportunities.

💡Military crackdown

A military crackdown refers to the use of force by the military to suppress a group or population, often resulting in violence and displacement. In the context of the video, the military crackdown in Myanmar has led to the persecution of the Rohingya people, forcing them to flee their homes and seek refuge elsewhere, as evidenced by the refugees' stories of fleeing due to such actions.

💡Overcrowding in camps

Overcrowding in camps refers to a situation where there are too many people living in a confined space, often resulting in poor living conditions and a lack of resources. The script mentions that the refugees have fled due to dangerous overcrowding in the camps in Bangladesh, illustrating the dire conditions that have pushed them to take on the risky sea journeys to other countries.

💡Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia

These three countries are mentioned in the script as destinations that Rohingya refugees are seeking to reach in search of better opportunities and safety. They represent the countries in the region that are often the targets of these refugee movements, highlighting the broader regional impact of the Rohingya crisis.

💡Sea journeys

Sea journeys in this context refer to the dangerous voyages that the Rohingya refugees undertake in order to escape their current situation. The script describes these journeys as made on decrepit wooden boats, which puts their lives in danger, emphasizing the extreme measures they are willing to take to find safety.

💡Decrepit wooden boats

Decrepit wooden boats are old and poorly maintained vessels that are not fit for safe travel. The script uses this term to describe the type of boats that the refugees are traveling on, which puts their lives at risk and underscores the desperation of their situation.

💡Urgent need for food, water, shelter, and medical help

This phrase from the script highlights the immediate humanitarian needs of the newly arrived refugees. It underscores the critical conditions they face upon arrival, such as hunger, thirst, lack of shelter, and the need for medical care, which are essential for their survival and well-being.

💡Local community and government response

The local community and government response refers to the actions taken by the people and authorities in the area where the refugees have arrived. The script mentions that people from nearby villages are bringing food for the refugees, and the local government is providing food aid, showing the efforts made by the local community to support the newcomers.

💡UN Refugee Convention

The UN Refugee Convention is an international treaty that outlines the rights of refugees and the responsibilities of states towards them. The script notes that Indonesia is not a signatory to this convention, which means it has not ratified it and does not feel obligated to provide long-term solutions for refugees. This highlights the legal and policy context within which Indonesia is handling the refugee arrivals.

Highlights

Nearly 600 Rohingya refugees have arrived in Indonesia's Aceh province, all by boat from Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is currently hosting up to a million Rohingya refugees in camps.

The refugees have fled persecution under the military junta in Myanmar.

They have undertaken dangerous sea journeys to escape overcrowding in camps and seek opportunities in Southeast Asia.

Hundreds of Rohingya refugees have arrived on a beach in Indonesia after weeks at sea on decrepit wooden boats.

A refugee recounts the perilous journey, mentioning seasickness and the presence of many children on the boat.

There are nearly 600 refugees at AA beach in urgent need of food, water, shelter, and medical help.

Community members reported a ship with thick smoke heading towards land at high speed.

Almost a million Rohingya have been living in refugee camps in Bangladesh due to military crackdown in Myanmar.

Poor conditions in Bangladeshi camps have pushed them to flee to Indonesia, displacing them a second time.

A refugee expresses sadness over their parents' situation in Bangladesh and pleads for protection and help.

Local villagers are bringing food for the refugees but do not want them to disembark due to accommodation concerns.

Indonesia has stated it does not have suitable accommodation for the refugees and past experiences have been problematic.

This is the third boat to have arrived in Indonesia in recent days, with more expected as the sailing season begins.

DW correspondent Sharon Sumang reports from the location where some refugees have arrived.

500 refugees are staying in the largest shelter in Aceh, with over 300 being recent arrivals.

Upon arrival, the refugees received food and aid from the local government and international organizations.

The refugees arrived in dire nutritional condition, with some requiring immediate medical assistance.

Locals in another regency in Aceh have rejected the Rohingya refugees, fearing they cannot assimilate and follow local norms.

Indonesia is not part of the UN Refugee Convention and does not feel obligated to provide a long-term solution for refugees.

Future discussions will involve ASEAN countries as the refugees also aim to go to Malaysia and Thailand.

Transcripts

nearly 600 rohinga refugees have arrived

in Indonesia's AE province in the past

week all arrived by boat from Bangladesh

you'll remember Bangladesh is hosting up

to a million rohinga refugees in camps

after they fled persecution under the

military hun in Myanmar The refugees

have made dangerous sea Journeys over

the past few years to escape dangerous

overcrowding in camps and in search of

opportunities in countries like Malaysia

Thailand and Indonesia

here's more on the recent arrivals in a

in

Indonesia hundreds of rohinga refugees

arrive on a beach in Indonesia they've

been traveling for weeks across the sea

in decrepit wooden boats that put their

lives in

danger I don't remember anything about

how long and what it was like

why I was seasick so I don't know

anything I started my trip uh on 20 26

October on the boot and there are 240

people with me in the boot I can save my

life but there are so many babies and so

many children in the boat please protect

[Music]

them there are nearly 600 refugees at AA

beach in urgent need of food Water

Shelter and medical

help people in the community told us

they saw a ship heading towards the land

with a fairly high speed and Thick

Smoke around 11:30 local

time when we came here we saw they were

rohinga almost a million ringas have

been living in refugee camps in

Bangladesh after escaping military

Crackdown in

Myanmar poor conditions in Bangladeshi

camps have pushed them to flee to

Indonesia displacing them a second time

in their lives I stood there as a

refugee I I feel very sad because my my

parents are in trouble in Bangladesh

please protect us and please help us to

go

anywhere people from nearby villagers

are bringing food for the refugees but

they don't want refugees to get off the

boat we simply do not have suitable

accommodation for

them based on past experiences they

indeed can be

problematic at times they tend to wander

off and we are concerned that there

could be undesirable

incidents it's not that we don't care

about

Humanity

this is the third boat to have arrived

in Indonesia over the last days

organizations monitoring the ringas say

more boats are on the way and it is what

they call the start of the sailing

season and joining me now for more is DW

correspondent Sharon sumang who's in a

where some of the refugees arrived

Sharon where are these refugees now and

are they being looked

after yes be so right now uh I'm in PD 2

hours from the city band AE here behind

me is the building where there are 500

refugees uh are staying this is in fact

the biggest shelter in AE and um 300 of

them more than 300 of them are the

refugees that have just arrived two days

ago on Tuesday and also W uh Wednesday

on two different boats so as you can see

behind me there are children teenagers

men men and women staying here and the

rest like another 100 or so they have

been staying here for uh at least a year

and yes after they arrived uh people

provide them them with food and also I'm

looking right now at Food Truck where

people where the local government also

uh providing them uh food uh as an aid

for the refuges that just arrived and

the unhcr and uh International or

Organization for m ation both of these

organizations have been facilitating the

refugees uh for their arrival can you

talk to us a bit about the condition

that these refugees arrived and given

that they were on rickety boats that

were at sea for many

days yeah they came here in a weekend in

dire nutrition uh in fact there are four

people who are sick and got immediate uh

medical assistance uh from the locals

and also um I just talked to one of the

refugees uh a woman uh that that just

arrived on the first boat she came here

with three of her children and she just

bring like very limited food on uh for

their um for their food on the on the

sea and they had they had to survive

with a very limited food and also drink

and they were on the sea for like 14

days um so when I asked her like for

example do you know that um

you can actually like wait for God knows

for how long or like for years until you

can go to Malaysia she just said like

when wherever it is at least she can

have a better safety and better future

for their children can you talk to us a

bit also about uh how the locals are

reacting to these uh refugees on boats

that are arriving in

a yeah so uh we got an information that

um 3 hours from here in beran another

Regency in AE um the locals are

rejecting the uh refugees the rohinga

refugees and they have been rejected

twice actually uh the third boat uh to

land on the beach why it's because the

locals uh feel like they cannot

assimilate well they uh they don't obey

like the norms and also the cultures

that have been implement mented uh for

years uh and they feel like um there has

been like um influx massive influx of

refugees coming to AE uh like and they

they just don't expect it to be this

many so so what does that say about how

Indonesia in general plans to handle

these uh somewhat regular boat arrivals

given also that the foreign Ministry has

said that the country has no capacity to

accommodate

refugees

yeah so not just uh not having the

capacity but Indonesia in fact uh is not

um part of the UN Refugee convention

they uh Indonesia hasn't ratified it so

Indonesia feels that they don't have the

obligation to take the refugee in and to

give the long-term or permanent solution

for them so um there's been

um meetings sessions talking about

refugees not just uh Indonesia but also

with asan countries that are involved

because yes they're trying to go to

Malaysia and Thailand too so uh in a

future it will not only be on

Indonesia's side how to handle this

issue but also with uh asan countries

that are involved and what and one

question remains is what are uh the

ringas uh refugees future

be we'll leave it there for the timing

but thanks so much for bringing us up to

date on the situation in our DW

correspondent Sharon sumal along

reporting from there thanks so

much