Nearly 200 Rohingya refugees land in western Indonesia after swimming to shore from boat

South China Morning Post
Agence France-Presse
Published: 8:27pm, 27 Mar, 2023

• The refugees, trying to reach Malaysia from Myanmar, said they were dropped offshore and told to swim to land by the boat’s captain
• Thousands of the mostly Rohingya Muslims risk their lives each year on long and expensive sea journeys to reach Malaysia or Indonesia

Ethic Rohingya men rest inside a mosque that is turned into a temporary shelter after they land in Kuala Matang Peulawi, Aceh province, Indonesia on March 27, 2023. Photo: AP

At least 184 Rohingya refugees, including many women and children, landed in Indonesia’s westernmost province on Monday, officials said, after they were dropped at sea by boat and made to swim ashore.

Thousands of the mostly Rohingya Muslims, heavily persecuted in Myanmar, risk their lives each year on long and expensive sea journeys, often in poor-quality boats, in an attempt to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.