Inp.polri.go.id - Banda Aceh. A joint SAR team has evacuated 139 Rohingya migrants who had been stranded at sea off the coast of Labuhan Haji, South Aceh.

"We evacuated 139 Rohingya migrants to shore using a local fishing boat," said Zumardi Chaidir, the Head of the SAR Task Force in South Aceh, on Thursday (24/10/2024). 

The rescue was carried out in stages, with each trip ferrying 26 people to Labuhan Haji Port. The migrants include children, women, and men

The migrants had been stranded since 19 October 2024, about four miles from shore, after local residents initially refused them entry, as reported by antaranews.com.

In total, 151 people were aboard the boat, including 79 women, 13 men, and 59 children under 10. Twelve migrants were taken to a local hospital for medical treatment due to illness.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)