Indonesian fishermen rescue nearly 100 Rohingya refugees in Aceh

Locals evacuate Rohingya refugees from a boat at a coast of North Aceh, Indonesia, June 25, 2020 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Rahmad/ via REUTERS

SEUNUDDON, Indonesia (Reuters) - Indonesian fishermen rescued nearly 100 Rohingya refugees, including 79 women and children, in Aceh province after officials said they were planning to push them back out to sea.

Countries around Southeast Asia have grown increasingly reluctant to accept refugee boats as they battle the novel coronavirus, but the Acehnese fishermen told Reuters that rescuing the Rohingya was a moral duty.