Over 300 Rohingya refugees have reached the shores of Aceh province in Indonesia after weeks of drifting across the sea from Bangladesh. The survivors, including children, women, and men, shared harrowing tales of running out of supplies and fearing death at sea. Two boats carrying 180 and 135 refugees respectively landed in the villages of Pidie and Aceh Besar, while a third boat remains missing.

Shahidul Islam, a 34-year-old survivor, recounted the desperate situation on their sinking boat, saying, "We had no food or water left." These refugees had fled from a camp in Bangladesh, where nearly a million Rohingya reside in camps near the border with Myanmar, escaping a military-led crackdown and alleged acts of genocide in 2017.

While Rohingya refugees have previously found temporary refuge in Aceh, tensions have been escalating as the number of arrivals has grown. The local villagers have shown resistance, even trying to push refugee boats back to sea. The residents in Aceh, including the local government, have made it clear that they will not provide funds, supplies, or shelter to the arriving Rohingya, and they do not want them to stay in the area.

Amidst these challenges, Indonesian President Joko Widodo promised temporary relief for the refugees while prioritizing the interests of the local community. The government is actively searching for a new site to accommodate the refugees, but opposition from residents remains. Protesters in Sabang Island clashed with the police, demanding the relocation of the Rohingya refugees.

The UN refugee agency has been working to reassure local communities that they will not be burdened with the responsibility of handling the refugees, acknowledging that designated shelters are already over capacity. However, with the worsening crisis in Myanmar and the difficult conditions in Bangladesh, experts predict more boats carrying Rohingya refugees could arrive in the coming months.

"We reject the Rohingya," one protester said, expressing concerns about the diseases they may carry. Meanwhile, Emily Bojovic of the UN refugee agency's Southeast Asia office highlighted that around 75 percent of the new arrivals are women and children.

As the Indonesian government continues to search for a sustainable solution, it faces the challenge of addressing the opposition from local communities. The plight of Rohingya refugees remains a pressing concern, and the UN urges international support to mitigate their suffering and find long-term solutions for their safety and well-being.