ACEH JAYA, NANGGROE ACEH DARUSSALAM (VOA) —
Head of the Banda Aceh National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Ibnu Harris, said that his party had succeeded in evacuating ten bodies from the waters of Aceh Jaya, Aceh Province, until Monday (25/3) evening. All of the victims found are believed to be ethnic Rohingya refugees who were victims of a capsizing boat accident last week.
“To date, based on the information we have received since Saturday (23/3), there are three bodies. Then, Sunday (evacuation) of one body. Then, Monday (25/3) there were six bodies. “So the number we have evacuated is 10 people,” said Ibnu to VOA, Monday (25/3) evening.
Ibnu explained that the evacuation process began after receiving information from local fishermen on Monday (25/3). Six bodies were found floating, about 14 nautical miles from the waters of Ujong Muloh, Aceh Jaya.
BASARNAS members carry body bags during a search operation for missing Rohingya refugees near Calang, West Aceh, on March 23 2024. (Photo: AFP/Zahlul AKBAR)
“From this information, we immediately moved the rigit inflatable boat (RIB) from Banda Aceh to evacuate the victim. “So at 14.25 WIB, we managed to find six victims who were reported by fishermen,” he explained.
Then, the six victims, all of whom were known to be women, were immediately taken to the Ujong Muloh pier or more precisely to the Leumbesoh Fish Auction Place (TPI), Aceh Jaya.
“Then, we handed the body over to the ambulance and it was taken to Teuku Umar General Hospital in Calang, Aceh Jaya,” said Ibnu.
However, Ibnu could not confirm whether the six bodies were part of the victims of the Rohingya ship accident. The reason is, no identification was found attached to the victim's body.
“Can be. The possibility (Rohingya) exists. But that is the domain of the authorities because our only job is to evacuate. “Later the authorities will determine whether these victims are Rohingya,” said Ibnu.
Volunteers perform funeral prayers over the bodies of Rohingya refugees on board a capsized refugee boat, at Teuku Umar Hospital in Calang, West Aceh, on March 25 2024. (Photo: AFP/Zahlul AKBAR)
Takes 67 Lives
Miftah Cut Adek, Commander of Laot Aceh, revealed that the ship that had an accident was carrying around 142 Rohingya passengers. He stated that as many as 67 of these passengers had died.
“Departing from Bangladesh, 142 passengers survived, 75 in West Aceh. “It is reasonable to suspect that the rest are still at sea,” he told VOA via short message, Monday (25/3) evening.
In line with Miftah, the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the Aceh region, Faisal Rahman, confirmed that the ship was carrying 142 Rohingya people. He also emphasized that the bodies of the 11 passengers who had been found were Rohingya refugees.
“Yes (all Rohingya refugee victims). 10 bodies were found in Aceh Jaya and one in Meulaboh. “11 bodies have been found,” he told VOA, Tuesday (26/3).
He hopes that all the victims who are still missing can be found and identified soon.
“UNHCR really appreciates what the government has done in evacuating and responding to this incident, especially in Aceh Jaya and West Aceh. “We also hope that there will be no more incidents like this related to the possibility of stranding Rohingya refugees who need help,” he said.
As previously reported, six Rohingya people were rescued by local fishermen after the disaster occurred on March 20 2024. Basarnas Banda Aceh on March 21 evacuated the capsized boat and managed to save 69 people. They are a group of Rohingya refugees who sailed from Bangladesh. (aa/ah)