In The Last Three Years, Bakamla Recorded 1,588 Asylum Searchers Stranded In Indonesia

JAKARTA - From 2020 to 2023 there were 1,588 refugees and asylum seekers stranded in Indonesia. Head of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) Vice Admiral TNI Aan Kurnia explained the handling of asylum seekers and refugees through the Indonesian sea area.

"We have carried out operational dispersion, mapping the distribution of stranded refugee locations from 2020 to 2023 to estimate the sea routes used by refugees," said Aan Kurnia in a statement quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, April 5.

This was also conveyed by Aan Kurnia in a limited ministerial-level meeting chaired by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mohammad Mahfud MD in Jakarta.

He explained that the actions of handling refugees and asylum seekers carried out by Bakamla RI are in accordance with PP Number 13 of 2022 concerning the Implementation of Security, Safety and Law Enforcement (PKKPH) in the Waters and Regions of Indonesian Jurisdiction.

Based on data owned by Bakamla, from 2020 to 2023 there were 1,588 refugees and asylum seekers stranded in Indonesia.

"Actually, their (refugees) destination was to Malaysia and Australia. However, because the ship or ship engine damage used was not feasible, they had an accident while sailing in Indonesian waters," he explained.

Furthermore, after being rescued, the refugees were secured to the relevant agencies in Indonesia. However, it is necessary to clarify how their fate will be.

On the other hand, according to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of refugees in Indonesia is 9,497 people, not including asylum seekers, totaling 3,213 people. Thus, the total number of refugees and asylum seekers in Indonesia reached 12,710 people.

Aan explained that one of the efforts to resolve the problem was to exchange intense information by using the Asean Coast Guard Forum (ACF) which was carried out in an integrated manner.

In addition, the Daily Briefing Bakamla RI conducted by the Indonesian Maritime Information Center (IMIC) at the Bakamla RI Puskodal is also one of the effective communication lines, because it has been followed by 29 Ministries/Institutions (K/L) both at home and abroad.