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Greater than 100 Rohingya refugees who had been adrift on a sinking boat off the western coast of Indonesia have been allowed to disembark early on Friday, after authorities relented following worldwide strain to permit the group to hunt refuge.
In a video seen by Reuters, the refugees left the boat in heavy rain and boarded a bus, whereas authorities sprayed them with disinfectant.
Oktina Hafanti, an official on the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), informed reporters that the 105 refugees could be saved in quarantine for 10 to 14 days and bear well being checks.
The group of Rohingya, which included youngsters and pregnant girls, had been noticed by fisherman on their picket skiff off the coast of Aceh province on Sunday.
Authorities had initially agreed to supply humanitarian support earlier than planning to show the vessel away, however modified that call after warnings concerning the situation of the vessel and calls from UNHCR and teams reminiscent of Amnesty Worldwide to let the boat land.
A fisherman who had approached the boat when it was at sea mentioned the vessel had sustained engine damages and was leaking, and was vulnerable to sinking. He additionally mentioned some refugees had indicated that they wanted meals.
Usman Hamid, government director for Amnesty Worldwide’s Indonesia chapter, mentioned the federal government had reacted late however appreciated that authorities had listened to Acehnese fishermen and accepted the refugees.
The vessel was towed by an Indonesian navy ship on Thursday to shore.
Indonesia is just not a signatory to the 1951 U.N. Conference on Refugees and is predominately seen as a transit nation for these looking for asylum to a 3rd nation.
Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar have for years sailed to international locations reminiscent of Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia between November and April when the seas are calm. Lots of of them got here to Aceh in intervals in recent times.
Many have been turned away, at occasions after spending months at sea.
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