Inp.polri.go.id -  Banda Aceh. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said that some 700 Rohingya refugees who have entered Indonesia and are currently living in Aceh province need adequate shelter. "There are about 700 Rohingya refugees out of 1,684 who entered Aceh in 2023 who need proper shelter as they are currently living on the coast, in coconut plantations and in small tents," said Ann Maymann, UNHCR representative in Indonesia, during an inspection of the conditions of Rohingya refugees at Lamteh Beach, Aceh Besar, on Sunday (10/12/2023). She said that some refugee sites without adequate shelter include Sabang City, Pidie and those who recently landed in Aceh Besar, antaranews.com reported. According to Maymann, UNHCR has identified several suitable sites for the refugees, but they need the approval of the local administration. Maymann acknowledged that she had heard objections from some locals about the presence of Rohingya refugees. However, she asserted that such objections should not be generalized as an absolute rejection by Indonesia. "I have noticed that before November this year, the arrival of refugees did not lead to rejection. Nevertheless, we will continue to pay attention to the opinions of the local community regarding these objections," she said. It is well known that there has been a "surge" of Rohingya refugees arriving in Indonesia, mainly through Aceh, using wooden boats. The majority of them are women and children, classified by the UNHCR as stateless. President Joko Widodo said last week that the refugee influx was linked to human trafficking syndicates. The Indonesian government has pledged to help the refugees on humanitarian grounds, while prioritizing local interests and cracking down on trafficking networks. Aceh Regional Police have arrested three suspects, believed to be involved in trafficking crimes, one of whom is a Bangladeshi national. (mg/inp/pr/nm)