UNHCR Lauds Indonesia's Evacuation of Rohingya Refugees at Sea

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in a statement on Friday lauded the evacuation of a broken boat carrying Rohingya Muslim refugees adrift 53 naughtical miles off the coast of Aceh, which was first sighted on December 26.

The UNHCR said the steps taken by the Indonesian government proves the humanitarian spirit and shows that the evacuation of lives in distress remains to be first priority. They say Indonesia’s actions can serve as an example for other countries. 

Evacuations of refugees at sea similar to this one happened in 2015, 2018, 2020, and earlier this year in June after Indonesian authorities helped evacuate 81 Rohingya Muslim refugees adrift at sea.

“Facilitating the emergency disembarkation of the boat in distress and providing help to prevent losses of lives are a crucial humanitarian action,” Ann Maymann wrote in a statement on Friday, December 31. 

"UNHCR staff are now on the ground and are working intensively with governments, local communities, other UN agencies and partner humanitarian organizations to ensure that refugees receive the care and assistance they need as soon as possible,” Maymann wrote. 

Moreover, the fact that vulnerable groups of women, men and children continue to travel at high risk in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea shows how important it is for countries to work together to achieve regional solutions to irregular maritime movements.

Read: Govt Urged to Act Firmly against UNHCR over Refugee Issues

EGI ADYATAMA