Foreign Refugees Return to UNHCR Office After Eviction, Awaiting Clarity on Status

A number of foreign refugees have returned to the rear of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office following a persuasive appeal by the South Jakarta City Administration. Jafar Ali Husaini, a 47-year-old refugee from Afghanistan, told reporters on Friday that he has been in Indonesia for 10 years. He spent two years in a camp in Surabaya, five months in Makassar, and two years in front of the UNHCR office. He currently lives in a rented room in Depok but visits the UNHCR office twice a week seeking clarity on his status without receiving any response. He stated that he is not permitted to work in Indonesia and that the International Organization for Migration halted all financial support and housing assistance in February 2024, leaving him with debts of approximately Rp40 million. Jafar, who worked as a construction contractor for 18 years, said he left Afghanistan due to security concerns. The refugees were seen sitting on the pavement and lying on carpets with their belongings. The South Jakarta City Administration had previously evicted the foreign refugees living on the pavement in front of the UNHCR office on Thursday, 2 July, to restore public order and pedestrian access. UNHCR is currently seeking a suitable relocation site for the 32 refugees, while the 2016 Presidential Regulation on refugee handling is under judicial review coordinated by the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs.