Banda Aceh: Indonesia has rescued more than 150 Rohingya refugees, including women and children, who had been stranded at sea for several days, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported on Friday. 

The Rohingya, a persecuted ethnic group in Myanmar, often undertake perilous sea journeys each year to escape hardship, aiming to reach countries like Malaysia or Indonesia. The boat, carrying 152 refugees, was anchored about a mile off the coast of South Aceh district while authorities debated landing options, eventually allowing them ashore on Thursday afternoon.

"UNHCR thanks the local authorities and communities for their humanitarian response and granting permission for the landing of around 152 refugees," said UNHCR’s Faisal Rahman. According to Rahman, many onboard were vulnerable, including victims of human trafficking.

Rohingya arrivals in Indonesia fluctuate based on seasonal weather, with calmer seas increasing migration attempts. Another group of 140 refugees landed in Indonesia’s North Sumatra on Thursday.

Though not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, Indonesia has taken in Rohingya refugees, but urges neighboring nations to assist in resettlement efforts. Some locals in Aceh, where memories of past conflict linger, empathise with the Rohingya's struggles. Others, however, express frustration, claiming that resources are strained and tensions occasionally arise between communities.

Last December, over 100 Rohingya refugees had to be relocated from a community hall in Aceh after hundreds of students reportedly protested, leading to the vandalism of their belongings.