Rohingya refugees stranded off the coast of Aceh, an Indonesian province on the northwest tip of Sumatra Island, were rescued on June 25.

Originally placed in the Lhokseumawe City Immigration Office shelter, the refugees were transferred to an intermediate shelter, considered more suitable at the Mee Kandang Village Vocational Training Center on July 10.

Hendrik C. Therik, Protection Associate of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said: "The initial data they got was 99 Rohingya refugees who were stranded, two of them did not have a UNHCR card, but they would still be re-verified."

According to Therik, support was provided by the people of Aceh to Rohingya refugees, to ensure their basic needs were met, in coordination with UNHCR, NGOs and the local government.

Around as 99 Rohingya refugees who were stranded off the coast of Aceh were rescued by local residents to the coast of Lancok Village on June 25, who were then placed in the Lhokseumawe City Immigration Office shelter, currently being transferred to an intermediate shelter that is considered more suitable to be occupied by local government, at the Mee Kandang Village Vocational Training Center (BLK), Lhokseumawe City, Aceh Province, Indonesia, on July 10, 2020.

Hendrik C. Therik, Protection Associate (comm-based) of UNHCR said, the initial data they got was 99 Rohingya refugees who were stranded, 2 of them did not have a UNHCR card, but they would still be re-verified.

According to him, a lot of assistance and support provided by the people of Aceh to Rohingya refugees who can facilitate the handling in the initial phase, to meet their basic needs will be met, with the coordination of UNHCR, NGOs and the Local Government.

The reason for removing 99 Rohingya refugees is because the place used previously was not able to accommodate the number of refugees and the existing facilities were also inadequate, but this new location has a wider place to accommodate the refugees, and public bathing, washing, and toilet facilities are also already available.