International Desk

Two boats carrying over 260 Rohingya refugees, primarily women and children, have arrived on Indonesia's coast, officials confirmed on Monday, reports AP.

Police and military personnel, alongside the U.N. refugee agency and the local government in West Pereulak, East Aceh, are gathering details about the refugees, who arrived Sunday evening, while ensuring their safety, according to East Aceh police chief Nova Suryandaru. “We will follow up their presence by coordinating with the UNHCR for further action,” Suryandaru stated.

Since last February, East Aceh has received more than 300 Rohingya refugees, it said.

Approximately 1 million Rohingya, predominantly Muslims, reside in camps in Bangladesh after fleeing Myanmar, including around 740,000 who escaped a violent “clearance campaign” in 2017 by Myanmar’s security forces, accused of mass rapes and killings. The Rohingya minority faces extensive discrimination in Myanmar and is largely denied citizenship.

In response to a significant increase in Rohingya departures from overcrowded Bangladeshi refugee camps since last year, Indonesia has sought international assistance, the report said.

Although Indonesia, like Thailand and Malaysia, is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention and is not legally required to accept refugees, it typically offers temporary shelter to those in distress.

On Saturday, Malaysian authorities reported turning away two boats carrying nearly 300 Rohingya attempting to enter the country unlawfully. The Maritime Enforcement Agency also noted two additional boats attempting entry after 196 Rohingya landed on Friday on Langkawi, a northeastern resort island, where they were detained.