KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Refugees from Afghanistan in Indonesia have once again staged a protest in front of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) office, demanding faster processing of their asylum cases and resettlement.
The demonstration took place on Wednesday, May 14, in Jakarta, the capital city. Protesters demanded an end to over a decade of uncertainty and called on the UN to address their pending cases.
Thousands of refugees from Afghanistan, mostly from the Hazara ethnic group, remain stranded in Indonesia and neighboring Malaysia for over a decade, awaiting resettlement to countries like Australia, the United States, and Canada
The Hazaras, a historically persecuted ethnic group in Afghanistan, have fled violence by the Taliban and other extremist groups. Many have been living in limbo for years without legal status or basic rights.
In recent years, the refugees have held multiple protests across Indonesia. Some staged sit-ins for weeks in front of UNHCR offices, with a number sewing their lips shut in a desperate act to draw attention to their plight.
Indonesia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol. As a result, refugees are not legally recognized, cannot work, and have limited access to education and healthcare.
Refugee advocates say the situation has led to growing mental health problems among refugees. Several have taken their own lives in recent years as they struggle with isolation, poverty, and a lack of hope.
