By Ainur Romah
JAKARTA
Around 100 of the 1486 Myanmar and Bangladesh migrants who have beached on the northern end of Sumatra are now being treated in hospitals and clinics near three shelters in Banda Aceh after spending around three months at sea.
The migrants are from the many boats that have been turning up on Malaysian and Indonesian shores following a crackdown on people smuggling by Thailand after 33 bodies were discovered at a trafficking camp in its south May 1.
The initial influx of 600 migrants who arrived in Aceh May 9 is staying in a complex in Kuala Cangkoi, 790 more found floating in three overload boats Thursday are in a shelter in Kuala Langsa, and 96 migrants rescued by fishermen Friday have been placed in temporary accommodation in Pangkalan Susu.
The Head of West Langsa Clinic, Dr. Ayu Artlinta, told Anadolu Agency on Saturday said that many had suffered tremendously from the cramped conditions and lack of supplies on the boats.
"Their conditions are very weak. While some of them have started to recover, others remain ill," he said.
He added that around 100 of them were suffering from ailments such as dehydration, wounds, trauma, and broken bones.
In the wake of the Boxing Day tsunami, Aceh received almost $5 billion in international aid. After a 9.1 magnitude earthquake in the Indian Ocean, waves around 30 meters high swept through the province, leaving at least 163,000 people dead or missing, including 60,000 in the capital, Banda Aceh.
Aceh resident Hendi Permana told the Anadolu Agency by phone on Saturday that those living near the Pangkalan Susu Shelter had been assisting the migrants with food, clothing, and blankets.
"As Muslims we have to help each other," he said.
He added that Acehnese knew what it was like to suffer, given the problems they faced after the 2004 tsunami .
"It used to be us who had trouble. Many people helped us, and now it's our turn [to help]," he said
Inter-governmental agency the International Organization for Migration has estimated that 8,000 migrants being smuggled from either western Myanmar or Bangladesh are currently on boats in the Andaman Sea and Malacca Straits.
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