Indonesian fishermen rescue 100 Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar

Indonesian fishermen rescue 100 Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar

Fishermen from North Aceh Regency in Indonesia on Friday (June 26th) rescued around 100 Rohingya refugees who were travelling in a rickety boat from Myanmar.

Footage showed the fishermen towing the refugees, including 30 children, to the shore of Lhokseumawem, near the northernmost tip of Sumatra.

The refugees had been denied access by local authorities due to coronavirus fears, so the fishermen stepped in to bring them to land.

They were then taken to immigration centres to be processed by the Indonesian police.

The refugees said at least 15 of them died on the dangerous four-month journey and were thrown into the sea.

Others said they were beaten by human traffickers.

They also revealed they were forced to drink their own urine to survive.