Living without hope

Living without hope

Scattered across Sampang, on the island of Madura, over 88,000
refugees live in abhorrent conditions with children continuously
gnawing on tiny fish bones as there is no meat or vegetables to
eat, while jobless adults wait for death to fetch them.

The only work available in Sampang for these refugees is as
fishermen. For a full day's work, a fisherman is paid between Rp
1,000 (US 11 cents) and Rp 2,000 each day.

These refugees are among those who were rescued and evacuated
when thousands were killed two years ago in clashes with the
Dayak ethnic group in Central Kalimantan.

Despite their appeals, the local administration refuses to
repatriate the refugees to their homes in Sampit, Central
Kalimantan.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the foreign aid, received by the
refugee coordinator here, is used for the benefit of a few
corrupt administration officials while we are left here to die.
We have become objects of trade," a grandmother at a refugee camp
in Sampang said recently.

"When we are no longer concerned about being killed by the
Dayak today, what other reason does the administration have for
not allowing us to return to Sampit?"

(Text by Yogita Tahilramani and Edith Hartanto)