Sharjah24 – AFP: Indonesia's navy rescued more than 100 Rohingya migrants traveling in a wooden boat, bringing them to safety early Friday morning following pressure from locals.
The naval ship arrived in Lhokseumawe on the north coast of Aceh province shortly after midnight, according to AFP journalists at the scene.
Rough seas and pouring rain hampered the operation to bring the mostly women and children to shore, the navy said.
The rescue operation followed local protests and pressure from rights groups, including the UNHRC, after the Indonesian government initially refused entry.
Jakarta on Wednesday evening relented and agreed to bring the boat to shore on humanitarian grounds.
Local Acehnese fishermen first discovered the vessel on December 25 as it drifted between 50 and 70 nautical miles off the coast with a broken engine.
Video they sent from the scene showed the vessel dangerously overcrowded and sitting low in the water after it took on water in heavy seas after the engine failure.
After they disembarked, the migrants were sprayed with disinfectant and transferred to buses before being driven away.
Officials said they would be moved to a nearby training facility where they would be tested for Covid-19, have medical checks and then quarantine for 10 days.
Migrant Rohingya frequently pass by Aceh province en route to Malaysia, where they seek work and a better life.
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