Why Do Refugees Stage Sit-in at UNHCR Office in Jakarta?

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of refugees have returned to stay near the back of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Jakarta on Friday, July 3, 2026. They previously received a warning from the South Jakarta city government to vacate the place."I've been in Indonesia for 10 years. Two years in a [refugee] camp in Surabaya, five months in Makassar, under heat and rain, and then two years in front of the UNHCR office," Jafar Ali Husaini (47), a refugee from Afghanistan, told reporters in Jakarta on Friday, as quoted from Antara.Javar currently lives in a boarding house in Depok, West Java, but he visits the UNHCR office twice a week to seek clarification about his status. "I have yet to receive any response," said Jafar.According to Jafar, he's not allowed to seek employment while in Indonesia. While he received aid from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), this assistance has been cut since February 2024. IOM, he said, has halted any financial support and housing assistance, causing him to be Rp40 million deep in debt, which he previously borrowed to make ends meet. Before leaving Afghanistan, Jafar said he worked as a construction contractor for around 18 years. He decided to leave for security reasons, heading to Pakistan before he ended up in Indonesia."I came here because I had no security. I wasn't safe in my country," Jafar said.Jafar said he stayed in front of the UNHCR office because he had yet to receive any certainty regarding his handling and placement process. While Jafar is not the only refugee there, the number has dwindled after the city government urged them to vacate the area on Thursday. The disciplinary action was taken to restore public order, environmental cleanliness, and the sidewalk's function for pedestrians.The remaining refugees sat on the sidewalk while waiting, while some were seen lying on the side of the road on carpets. They sat surrounded by bags, gallon jugs of mineral water, and pillows.Meanwhile, UNHCR is still working to find a suitable relocation site for the 32 refugees.Indonesia's refugee management is currently under judicial review under the coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs.Read: What Does Refugee Protection Look Like in Indonesia?Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News