The United Nations refugee agency says Indonesia has rescued about 230 Rohingya Muslims believed to have been adrift at sea for about a month.

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees says the Rohingya were found drifting in two boats this week in waters off Aceh, Indonesia.

Some of the people brought ashore received relief supplies on Wednesday at a shelter in the Aceh Besar area.

More than 700,000 minority Rohingya crossed the border from Myanmar to neighboring Bangladesh to flee a crackdown by Myanmar's military that started in 2017.

Many of them are reportedly trying to leave the poor living conditions in Bangladeshi refugee camps, desperate to find a new life in other countries.

Those saved this week apparently left Bangladesh and were heading to Indonesia or Malaysia, but their boats drifted due to an engine failure and other problems.

More than 20 people reportedly died during the long journey at sea.

UNHCR is calling on the international community to help protect Rohingya Muslims.