Rohingya Stranded at Sea Near Indonesia

A boat carrying 164 Rohingya refugees has been floating aimlessly in the sea near Indonesia for over 10 days after its engine failed. These refugees, many of whom fled from the camps in Bangladesh and villages in Maungdaw and Buthidaung, embarked on their perilous journey to Malaysia on October 1st in search of safety and a better life. But now, they find themselves stranded, hungry, and scared, with no land in sight.

“We are 164 people on this boat, and we are all Rohingyas,” one of the passengers shared with a voice full of fear and exhaustion. “We left for Malaysia, hoping for a new beginning, but we’ve been stuck here, helpless, near Indonesia for what feels like an eternity.”

The boat had been making progress for the first seven days, navigating through the waters toward Malaysia. However, disaster struck when the engine broke down, leaving the refugees at the mercy of the ocean currents.

“Our food ran out days ago, and we are starving,” another passenger explained. The most devastating moment came on October 16, when a woman in her 50s, who had been traveling with her three children, died of starvation. “It was heart-wrenching to see her go, knowing that we could do nothing to save her,” the passenger said, his voice breaking.

The survivors, weakened by hunger and dehydration, continue to plead for help. “We have nothing left. We’re crying for food and water, but no one can hear us,” said another, with despair in their voice.

What started as a hopeful journey to escape hardship has turned into a nightmare, with those aboard fearing for their lives with each passing day. The refugees are calling on the international community to intervene before it’s too late, as many more lives hang in the balance.

Rohingya Vision News is following this tragic story, as the fate of these 164 lives depends on immediate rescue.