U.N. urges countries to help Rohingya at sea as hundreds land in Indonesia

Rohingya refugees receive medical treatment at a temporary shelter in Pidie, Aceh province, Indonesia, December 26, 2022, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Joni Saputra/via REUTERS

PIDIE, Indonesia (Reuters) -The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) urged countries on Tuesday to help Rohingya Muslims stranded at sea as at least 20 reportedly died and hundreds more landed in Indonesia after weeks adrift in the Indian Ocean.

Nearly 500 Rohingya have reached Indonesia in the past six weeks while "many others did not act despite numerous pleas and appeals for help", the UNHCR said in a statement.