Since November, more than 1,500 Rohingya refugees have arrived by boat in Indonesia's Aceh province. Of the total 1,543 Rohingya refugees who landed from November to December, 739 of them were children and 447 were women.
Their arrival was not welcomed by some fellow Muslims in Aceh, and a number of them were even refused to land by residents in North Aceh Regency and Sabang Island. This situation raises serious concerns from various human rights organizations. The President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, stated that the Indonesian government remains committed to providing assistance to refugees, at least for a temporary period.
However, in a meeting discussing the Rohingya issue on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly Session in New York, United States, the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the future of the Rohingya refugees was still uncertain. This uncertainty creates greater vulnerability, especially for women and children in their temporary shelters.
The UN agency involved in refugee affairs said the attacks on Rohingya refugees were the result of a coordinated online campaign filled with misinformation and hate speech. This situation further worsens the conditions of the refugees, who are already struggling in difficult living conditions.
In this context, the protection of women and children in shelters becomes increasingly crucial. The Indonesian government, together with the international community, is expected to work together to find long-term solutions that can provide security and prosperity for Rohingya refugees, while still respecting humanitarian values and human rights.
Rohingya Muslim woman rests after landing on a beach in Sabang, Aceh province, Indonesia, November 22, 2023. More then 200 ethnic Rohingya came ashore in Indonesia’s Aceh province late on Tuesday, taking total arrivals of members of the Myanmar muslim minority to more then 1.000 for the week, a leader of the province’s fishing community said.
Rohingya Muslim women sit as they are being transported to a temporary shelter, following their arrival in Sabang, Aceh province, Indonesia, November 22, 2023. The government, together with UNHCR, is trying to find a safe haven for the refugees after the community previously rejected their arrival and would push them back to the sea.
A coin worth five taka is shown by Abu Foyas at a port were house that is used as a temporary shelter in Sabang, December 8, 2023. To get to Indonesia they paid more than USD$1000 to smugglers.
University students protest for the deportation of the Rohingya refugees in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia December 27, 2023. Students in Indonesia's Aceh province rallied on Wednesday demanding the government drive away Rohingya refugees arriving by boat in growing numbers as police named more suspects of human trafficking.
Rohingya Muslim women rest after landing on a beach in Sabang, Aceh province, Indonesia, November 22, 2023. More then 200 ethnic Rohingya came ashore in Indonesia’s Aceh province late on Tuesday, taking total arrivals of members of the Myanmar muslim minority to more then 1.000 for the week, a leader of the province’s fishing community said.
A Rohingya Muslim woman reacts while holding her child, as they relocated from their temporary shelter at Balai Meuseuraya Aceh following a protest for the deportation of the Rohingya refugees in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia, December 27, 2023.
Rohingya Muslim refugees are seen at a port warehouse that is used as temporary shelter, in Sabang, Aceh province, Indonesia, December 7, 2023. For over a month, Rohingya refugees have been housed in open tents on the outskirts of the Sabang city pier. The rejection of Rohingya refugees by many local communities exacerbates the vulnerability of women and children, who lack access to proper shelter. The rejection of Rohingya refugees by many local communities further exacerbates the vulnerability of women and children, who struggle to access proper shelter.
Rohingya Muslim children stand at a port warehouse that is used as a temporary shelter in Sabang, Aceh province, Indonesia, December 7, 2023. Since November, over 1,500 Rohingya refugees who fled Bangladesh by boat have arrived in Indonesia's northern province of Aceh, with three-quarters of them being women and children. The rejection of Rohingya refugees by many local communities further exacerbates the vulnerability of women and children, who struggle to access proper shelter.
Rohingya Muslim refugee children play at a skateboard park that is being used as temporary shelter after they were refused shelter by local residents, following their arrival, in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, December 11, 2023.