By Ainur Rohmah

JAKARTA 

The governor of a northern Indonesian province has expressed concern over the cost of accommodating migrants, around two weeks after boatloads of Muslim Rohingya and Bangladeshis began washing up on the region’s shores. 

"I do not remember how much, but we have spent a lot," Metro TV quoted Aceh Governor Zaini Abdullah as saying Tuesday during a visit to the presidential palace complex in Jakarta.

Abdullah asked the federal government to immediately distribute funding as the province lacked a special budget to tackle the migrants’ needs. The minister of social affairs said Sunday that assistance worth Rp2.3 billion (around $175,000) had been set aside for four shelters in Aceh.

Thousands of migrants began beaching on Indonesian and Malaysian shores after Thailand launched a crackdown on human trafficking in its southern region May 1. The countries responded by taking in some of the boats, before their navies began turning the vessels back to sea after providing them with food and water – drawing the criticism of rights groups.


However, Malaysia and Indonesia agreed last week to shelter the Rohingya – many of whom fled Myanmar – for one year, while repatriating the Bangladeshis.

A “government regulation in lieu of law” has been drafted to help local governments handle the migrant issue, particularly the financial cost, the director of international security and disarmament at the foreign ministry told Anadolu Agency.

"It will be signed by the president as soon as possible," Andi Rachmianto said.

The legislation can be used by local governments to demand a special budget from the central government so they will not lack the funds to provide accommodation, food and other facilities to the migrants who enter their territory.

Rachmianto added that the government's plan to send back the Bangladeshis – estimated to account for 720 out of the 1,759 migrants sheltered in Aceh – would also decrease the province’s burden.

The government is targeting to finish repatriating the Bangladeshis - thought to be seeking jobs rather than fleeing persecution - within one month, with the costs of the process set to be covered by the UNHCR and International Organization for Migration.

Meanwhile, the head of the national disaster management agency told Anadolu Agency that the migrants have started to face health challenges due to the lack of sanitation facilities.

"Rohingya refugees are usually defecating anywhere due to a lack of sanitation,” Syamsul Maarif said. “They desperately need proper sanitation."

He added that the agency would provide hundreds of tents to be occupied by 250 Rohingya families.

"We will immediately prepare tents for them. One tent for each family," Maarif said.