They will gradually be united with their colleagues in Medan to facilitate easier handlingBanda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) - Some 86 Rohingya refugees in Lhokseumawe City, Aceh Province, will be transferred to Medan City in North Sumatra Province in the near future, according to a government official.
"They will gradually be united with their colleagues in Medan to facilitate easier handling," Head of the Task Force for Handling Rohingya Refugees Ridwan Jalil stated.
The refugees are currently accommodated at a vocational training center in Meunasah Mee Kandang Village of Muara Dua Sub-district, Jalil noted in a statement that ANTARA quoted on Thursday.
The refugees are part of the 396 Rohingya migrants that landed in Aceh Province in 2020, though most of them had fled their temporary shelters in Lhokseumawe, Jalil remarked.
To prevent the remaining 86 refugees from escaping their shelter, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had agreed on their transfer to Medan.
Prior to their transfer to likely commence next week, the task force has been coordinating with the UNHCR and other related authorities, according to Jalil.
In the first batch, 50 older refugees and children will get transported, while 36 others will join the second batch, he revealed.
ANTARA noted that the UNHCR-Indonesia Office has granted refugee status to 99 Rohingya migrants rescued by three Acehnese fishermen on humanitarian grounds in June 2020.
Refugee status was granted to the 99 Rohingya migrants comprising 31 women, 41 girls, 16 men, and 11 boys after the UNHCR officials registered them on July 5-11, 2020.
On July 10, 2020, the Indonesian government had shifted them from the old immigration office in Lhokseumawe to the city's Meunasah Mee vocational training center.
However, 22 of them fled the vocational training center.
During the registration process, the UNHCR officials found that 25 of the refugee children were traveling without their parents.
However, 13 of them were accompanied by their guardians.
Three Acehnese fishermen rescued the 99 refugees on humanitarian grounds after their boat got stranded in the waters off Seunuddon, North Aceh, on June 24, 2020.
The Indonesian government offered hygiene kits and logistics as well as health services to the refugees.
The EU's Foreign Affairs and Security Policy spokesperson, Nabila Massrali, has lauded Indonesia's decision to provide safe landing and humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya refugees.
Related news: Military thwarts Rohingya refugees' attempt to flee camp in Aceh
Related news: Transborder crimes continue unabated during pandemic: Marsudi
Close
EDITED BY INE
Translator: M.Haris SA, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
