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
Fact Check: Misleading Footage Claimed as Israeli Refugees After Iran Attack
31 Maret 2026
Fact check - The video of Palestinians in Gaza awaiting airdropped aid in 2025 is misleadingly claimed as Israeli refugees.
171 Aceh Residents Still Living in Evacuation Tents, Minister Tito Says
25 Maret 2026
Earlier, President Prabowo said post-disaster recovery in Aceh Tamiang is nearly complete, with all residents moved from tents to proper housing.
UN: 4.1 Million People Now Refugees in Four Middle Eastern Countries
13 Maret 2026
The UN says over 4.1 million people have been displaced by conflicts in Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, and Pakistan.
UK Stops Issuing Student Visas for 4 Countries
4 Maret 2026
The UK Home Office has announced an "emergency brake" on study visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan.
South Africa Deports Kenyans over US "Refugee" Program
17 Desember 2025
Authorities say the Kenyans were working illegally, processing refugee applications for white South Africans to support US President Trump's efforts.
Indonesia's MBG Kitchens Serve Tens of Thousands Displaced by Sumatra Floods
1 Desember 2025
BGN says a total of 286 MBG kitchens are currently active in the disaster zones in Sumatra, providing meals to approximately 600,000 refugees.
Indonesia's Aceh Singkil Isolated by Floods as Thousands Face Starvation Risk
1 Desember 2025
With roads and bridges destroyed, the district is largely cut off by floods, and only a few areas remain reachable via rough alternative routes.
South Africa Probes Flight Carrying 153 Palestinian Refugees
17 November 2025
A group of Palestinian refugees landed in South Africa on an illegal flight.
Floods Hit Gaza Refugee Camps, Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
16 November 2025
A heavy rain on Friday until Saturday morning flooded thousands of refugee tents, making them uninhabitable for the displaced Palestinians in Gaza.
Global Aid Crisis Dire as Winter Nears for Millions in Need
15 November 2025
Millions of refugees in camps and informal settings around the world will feel the loss of billions in aid funding as winter approaches.
