9 Years In Indonesia, Afghan Refugees Feel Neglected

JAKARTA – The refugees from Afghanistan at the evacuation post of the former Kodim building, Kalideres, West Jakarta, hope that the conflict in their country can be resolved with the help of various parties.

Wahid Ali as the refugee coordinator explained that the refugees from Afghanistan in Kebon Sirih and the refugees in the former Kalideres Kodim building made no difference, only that the registration status had been recorded or not.

Still, Wahid said, those at the Kalideres shelter post have been registered at UNHCR in Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta.

"Refugees from 2018 are here. Afghan refugees in Kalideres are different from Afghan refugees at UNHCR Kebon Sirih. Currently, refugees at UNHCR Kebon Sirih are still there, and in Kalideres are still there", he said.

However, the refugees have not gotten what they wanted while in Indonesia. In fact, they also do not want to be in Indonesia as refugees.

"The reason (being in refugee camps) is that everyone in the world knows how the condition of Afghanistan is? Look at Afghanistan, how is the condition?", he said.

Wahid said that since he lived for 9 years, Afghan refugees never got what they expected from Indonesia and Afghanistan.

"From the 9 years I have lived in Indonesia, I have conveyed my hopes but the results are not there. I have lived in Kalideres for more than 2 years", said Wahid.