The refugees arrived by boat at 3am local time (2000 GMT Saturday), the latest in what has been the largest influx of the persecuted Myanmar minority since 2015.

The mostly Muslim Rohingyas were the target of a 2017 crackdown by Myanmar’s military that is the subject of a UN genocide probe.

Around a million have fled to Bangladesh, and from there thousands risk their lives each year on long and expensive sea journeys to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.

Like many Indonesians, Muslim goes by one name.

He said the local government would not take responsibility for providing the refugees with tents or any other basic needs.

AFP witnessed the refugees assembled on the beach, with mothers cradling their children, some of whom were naked, in their arms.

“Regarding shelter in Pidie, there is no space available anymore,” Muslim said.

Local authorities and residents have been rejecting the persecuted Rohingyas, threatening to push them back to sea since more than 1,000 arrived last month.

On Wednesday, about 150 protesters in Sabang Island in Aceh clashed with police as they called for the Rohingya refugees to be relocated.

He accused a human trafficking network of being behind the rising number of Rohingya refugees reaching his country by boat, vowing to take strict action against the perpetrators.

Indonesia is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and says it is not compelled to take in refugees from Myanmar.

But neighbouring countries have also shut their doors, leaving the minority group with few other options.