The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is supporting the Government of Indonesia and humanitarian partners to deliver much-needed humanitarian assistance to the latest group of Rohingya refugees rescued off the coast of Aceh, Indonesia recently.

The 229 refugees arrived in North Aceh district on two separate boats on 15 and 16 November 2022 and had been hosted at the disembarkation locations until yesterday (30/11).

IOM is providing water, healthcare, COVID-19 testing, shelter materials and protection support for the past two weeks. IOM has also worked closely with local authorities to gain approval for the transfer to a new site in Peunteut, Lhokseumawe. The movement to a temporary shelter will significantly improve safety and security and provision of basic humanitarian assistance to the refugees.

This latest group consists of 78 children, 44 women and 107 men, all believed to have spent over a month at sea during the journey from Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

“IOM’s humanitarian response reflects earlier assistance and protection provided to Rohingya arrivals, principally focusing on shelter, health, protection and psychosocial support and benefitting significantly from the Government’s lead role in assisting the group,” stated Louis Hoffmann, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Indonesia.

"IOM commends the Government of Indonesia at both the local and national level for hosting this vulnerable group and providing them with temporary shelter. Special mention should also go to the local communities at the disembarkation sites, which have again played a significant role in ensuring the initial safety of these refugees,” Hoffmann said.

Since January 2020, over 791 Rohingya refugees have been rescued off the coast of Aceh.

IOM Indonesia currently assists over 7,000 refugees in Indonesia with comprehensive care and assistance, including accommodation, healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), education and basic needs.

IOM also works closely with the Government of Indonesia to prevent and counter-trafficking in persons, strengthen protection for labour migrants, improve disaster risk reduction and disaster response, and support integrated border management systems with a particular focus on battling the current COVID-19 pandemic.

IOM’s humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees arriving in Aceh is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).

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For further information, please contact Ariani Hasanah Soejoeti at IOM Indonesia, email: asoejoeti@iom.int, tel. +628122726308 or Itayi Viriri at IOM Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Tel: +63 917 890 8785, Email: iviriri@iom.int