94 Rohingya discovered adrift off Indonesia coast

Three fishermen found a group of Rohingya on the rickety boat about 6 kilometers off Aceh. They were crying out for help jumped onto the fishermen's boat, but its engine also stopped working on the way to shore. A day later, local authorities rescued them. The group included 49 women, 15 men and 30 children.

North Aceh: Indonesian fishermen discovered 94 hungry, weak Rohingya Muslims on a wooden boat adrift off Indonesia’s northernmost province of Aceh, an official said Wednesday.

The people were found by three fishermen late on Monday on the rickety boat about 6 kilometers (4 miles) off the coast, local police chief Muhammad Jamil said.

He said the group of Rohingya cried out for help and jumped onto the fishermen's boat, but its engine also stopped working on the way to shore.

They remained on the boat Wednesday awaiting a decision by the local government whether to accept them.

“We are still waiting for further instructions on what we should do with them,” Jamil said.

He said authorities provided them with food and water and villagers donated clothes.

The 49 women, 15 men and 30 children were weak from hunger and dehydrated after a two-week voyage, Jamil said.

He said it wasn’t clear where the group was traveling from or where it was headed because none could speak English or Malay.

In April, Malaysia denied entry to a boat carrying about 200 Rohingya due to coronavirus fears.

AP