Indonesia Faces Rohingya Refugee Influx, Sparks Local Backlash

President Joko Widodo pledges temporary shelter amid rising anti-Rohingya sentiment, calls for international assistance.

Over 1,500 Rohingya refugees have arrived in Indonesia since November, sparking a backlash from local communities, particularly in the province of Aceh.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has attributed the surge in arrivals to human trafficking and pledged to work with international organizations to provide temporary shelter.
Despite not being a signatory to the U.N.’s 1951 Refugee Convention, Indonesia has traditionally provided temporary shelter to refugees in distress.
Efforts to repatriate the Rohingya have failed due to concerns about their safety. The Rohingya, largely denied citizenship rights in Myanmar, face widespread social discrimination.
There is concern that the number of Rohingya making the dangerous sea voyage may increase in the coming months due to worsening conditions in refugee camps.