ALBAWABA - Following the Rohingya boat tragedy off the Indonesian coast last week, 11 bodies have been recovered from the waters near the tragedy site, according to officials.
Indonesian rescuers cut off the search for any remaining Rohingya migrants on Friday after 75 were rescued, despite reports from some survivors that others were swept away when their boat and another boat attempting to assist them capsized days before.
Fathur Rahman, the director of the local search and rescue operation, told AFP that nearly half a dozen Rohingya had been found dead at sea 14 nautical miles (26 kilometers) off the Indonesian shore.
"Six more bodies are being evacuated right now. They were all women. We heard about the bodies from a fisherman. The bodies will be taken to the hospital," Rahman told AFP.
Earlier on Monday, UNHCR officials informed AFP that five bodies had been retrieved in recent days.
On Thursday, police staged a rescue operation of 69 Rohingya refugees who had been stranded at sea for weeks until the boat capsized, with many discovered clinging to the capsized vessel's hull. Six more were rescued by fishermen on Wednesday.
Every year, thousands of the Muslim minority risk their lives on long and expensive sea crossings, often on fragile boats, in an attempt to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.
Other refugees stated they were from Myanmar and had attempted to enter Thailand but were turned down, West Aceh fishing community secretary-general Pawang Amiruddin told AFP.
The United Nations refugee agency's protection associate, Faisal Rahman, said it was waiting for the evacuation team to return to shore before gathering "clear and firm data" on those rescued.
